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from open windows at Jeffrey Aspern； but Miss Tita was not a poet's
mistress any more than I was a poet。 This however did not prevent
my gratification from being great as I became aware on reaching
the end of the garden that Miss Tita was seated in my little bower。
At first I only made out an indistinct figure； not in the least
counting on such an overture from one of my hostesses；
it even occurred to me that some sentimental maidservant had stolen
in to keep a tryst with her sweetheart。 I was going to turn away；
not to frighten her； when the figure rose to its height and I
recognized Miss Bordereau's niece。 I must do myself the justice to say
that I did not wish to frighten her either； and much as I had longed
for some such accident I should have been capable of retreating。
It was as if I had laid a trap for her by coming home earlier than
usual and adding to that eccentricity by creeping into the garden。
As she rose she spoke to me； and then I reflected that perhaps；
secure in my almost inveterate absence； it was her nightly practice
to take a lonely airing。 There was no trap； in truth； because I
had had no suspicion。 At first I took for granted that the words
she uttered expressed discomfiture at my arrival； but as she
repeated themI had not caught them clearlyI had the surprise
of hearing her say； 〃Oh； dear； I'm so very glad you've come！〃
She and her aunt had in common the property of unexpected speeches。
She came out of the arbor almost as if she were going to throw
herself into my arms。
I hasten to add that she did nothing of the kind； she did not even
shake hands with me。 It was a gratification to her to see me
and presently she told me whybecause she was nervous when she
was out…of…doors at night alone。 The plants and bushes looked
so strange in the dark； and there were all sorts of queer sounds
she could not tell what they werelike the noises of animals。
She stood close to me； looking about her with an air of greater security
but without any demonstration of interest in me as an individual。
Then I guessed that nocturnal prowlings were not in the least her habit；
and I was also reminded （I had been struck with the circumstance
in talking with her before I took possession） that it was impossible
to overestimate her simplicity。
〃You speak as if you were lost in the backwoods；〃 I said； laughing。
〃How you manage to keep out of this charming place when you have only three
steps to take to get into it is more than I have yet been able to discover。
You hide away mighty well so long as I am on the premises； I know；
but I had a hope that you peeped out a little at other times。
You and your poor aunt are worse off than Carmelite nuns in their cells。
Should you mind telling me how you exist without air； without exercise；
without any sort of human contact？ I don't see how you carry on the common
business of life。〃
She looked at me as if I were talking some strange tongue； and her
answer was so little of an answer that I was considerably irritated。
〃We go to bed very earlyearlier than you would believe。〃
I was on the point of saying that this only deepened the mystery when she
gave me some relief by adding； 〃Before you came we were not so private。
But I never have been out at night。〃
〃Never in these fragrant alleys； blooming here under your nose？〃
〃Ah；〃 said Miss Tita； 〃they were never nice till now！〃 There was
an unmistakable reference in this and a flattering comparison；
so that it seemed to me I had gained a small advantage。
As it would help me to follow it up to establish a sort of
grievance I asked her why； since she thought my garden nice；
she had never thanked me in any way for the flowers I had been
sending up in such quantities for the previous three weeks。
I had not been discouragedthere had been； as she would
have observed； a daily armful； but I had been brought up
in the common forms and a word of recognition now and then
would have touched me in the right place。
〃Why I didn't know they were for me！〃
〃They were for both of you。 Why should I make a difference？〃
Miss Tita reflected as if she might by thinking of a reason for that；
but she failed to produce one。 Instead of this she asked abruptly；
〃Why in the world do you want to know us？〃
〃I ought after all to make a difference；〃 I replied。
〃That question is your aunt's； it isn't yours。 You wouldn't
ask it if you hadn't been put up to it。〃
〃She didn't tell me to ask you；〃 Miss Tita replied without confusion；
she was the oddest mixture of the shrinking and the direct。
〃Well； she has often wondered about it herself and expressed
her wonder to you。 She has insisted on it； so that she has
put the idea into your head that I am insufferably pushing。
Upon my word I think I have been very discreet。
And how completely your aunt must have lost every tradition
of sociability； to see anything out of the way in the idea
that respectable intelligent people； living as we do under
the same roof； should occasionally exchange a remark！
What could be more natural？ We are of the same country；
and we have at least some of the same tastes； since； like you；
I am intensely fond of Venice。〃
My interlocutress appeared incapable of grasping more than one clause
in any proposition； and she declared quickly； eagerly； as if she were
answering my whole speech： 〃I am not in the least fond of Venice。
I should like to go far away！〃
〃Has she always kept you back so？〃 I went on； to show her that I
could be as irrelevant as herself。
〃She told me to come out tonight； she has told me very often；〃
said Miss Tita。 〃It is I who wouldn't come。 I don't like
to leave her。〃
〃Is she too weak； is she failing？〃 I demanded； with more emotion；
I think； than I intended to show。 I judged this by the way
her eyes rested upon me in the darkness。 It embarrassed me
a little； and to turn the matter off I continued genially：
〃Do let us sit down together comfortably somewhere； and you
will tell me all about her。〃
Miss Tita made no resistance to this。 We found a bench
less secluded； less confidential； as it were； than the one
in the arbor； and we were still sitting there when I heard
midnight ring out from those clear bells of Venice which
vibrate with a solemnity of their own over the lagoon and hold
the air so much more than the chimes of other places。
We were together more than an hour； and our interview gave；
as it struck me； a great lift to my undertaking。
Miss Tita accepted the situation without a protest；
she had avoided me for three months； yet now she treated me
almost as if these three months had made me an old friend。
If I had chosen I might have inferred from this that though
she had avoided me she had given a good deal of consideration
to doing so。 She paid no attention to the flight of time
never worried at my keeping her so long away from her aunt。
She talked freely； answering questions and asking