Part 21 (1/2)

”Ah, you are taking one of the delightful walks?” he said. ”I envy you your first impressions of Rome.”

”I am not taking a walk--that is, for pleasure,” she answered. ”I am trying to find some vegetables that mother can eat; the vegetables here are so foreign! You don't know how disappointed I was, Mr. Noel, when I got your note. It was such a setback! Why couldn't you come right home with me now--that is, after I have got the vegetables--and see the pictures? It wouldn't take you fifteen minutes.”

It was only nine o'clock, and a beautiful morning. He thought her such a novelty, with her urgent invitations, her earnest eyes, and her basket on her arm, that he felt the impulse to walk beside her a while through the old streets of Rome; he was very fond of the old streets, and was curious to see whether she would notice the colors and outlines that made their picturesqueness. She noticed nothing but the vegetable-stalls, and talked of nothing but her pictures.

He still went on with her, however, amused by the questions she put to the vegetable-dealers (questions compiled from the phrase-books), and the calm contempt with which she surveyed the Roman artichokes they offered. At last she secured some beans, but of sadly Italian aspect, and Noel took the basket. He was much entertained by the prospect of carrying it home. He remarked to himself that of all the various things he had done in Rome this was the freshest. They reached the street of the Hyacinth and walked down its dark centre.

”I see you have the sun,” he said, looking up.

”Yes; that is the reason we took the top floor. We will go right up.

Everything is ready.”

He excused himself.

”Some other time.”

They had entered the dusky hallway. She looked at him without replying; then held out her hand for the basket. He gave it to her.

”I suppose you have seen Mr. Jackson?” he said, before taking leave.

She nodded, but did not speak. Then he saw two tears rise in her eyes.

”My dear young lady, you have been doing too much! You are tired. Don't you know that that is very dangerous in Rome?”

”It is nothing. Mother has been sick, and I have been up with her two nights. Then, as she did not like our servant, I dismissed her, and as we have not got any one else yet, I have had a good deal to do. But I don't mind that at all, beyond being a little tired; it was only your refusing to come up, when it seemed so easy. But never mind; you will come another day.” And, repressing the tears, she smiled faintly, and held out her hand for good-bye.

”I will come now,” said Noel. He took the basket again, and went up the stairs. He was touched by the two tears, but, at the same time, vexed with himself for being there at all. There was not one chance in five hundred that her work was worth anything; and, in the four hundred and ninety-nine, pray what was he to say?

She brought him everything. They were all in the four hundred and ninety-nine. In his opinion they were all extremely and essentially bad.

It was one of Raymond Noel's beliefs that, where women were concerned, a certain amount of falsity was sometimes indispensable. There were occasions when a man could no more tell the bare truth to a woman than he could strike her; the effect would be the same as a blow. He was an excellent evader when he chose to exert himself, and he finally got away from the little high-up apartment without disheartening or offending its young mistress, and without any very black record of direct untruth--what is more, without any positive promise as to the exact date of his next visit. But all this was a good deal of trouble to take for a girl he did not know or care for.

Soon afterwards he met, at a small party, Mrs. Lawrence.

”Tell me a little, please, about the young lady to whom you presented me at Mrs. Dudley's reception--Miss Macks,” he said, after some conversation.

”A little is all I can tell,” replied Mrs. Lawrence. ”She brought a letter of introduction to me from a far-away cousin of mine, who lives out West somewhere, and whom I have not seen for twenty years; my home, you know, is in New Jersey. How they learned I was in Rome I cannot imagine; but, knowing it, I suppose they thought that Miss Macks and I would meet, as necessarily as we should if together in their own village. The letter a.s.sures me that the girl is a great genius; that all she needs is an opportunity. They even take the ground that it will be a privilege for me to know her! But I am mortally tired of young geniuses; we have so many here in Rome! So I told her at once that I knew nothing of modern art--in fact, detested it--but that in any other way I should be delighted to be of use. And I took her to Mrs. Dudley's _omnium gatherum_.”

”Then you have not been to see her?”

”No; she came to see me. I sent cards, of course; I seldom call. What did you think of her?”

”I thought her charming,” replied Noel, remembering the night-vigils, the vegetables, the dismissed servant, and the two tears of the young stranger--remembering, also, her extremely bad pictures.

”I am glad she has found a friend in you,” replied Mrs. Lawrence. ”She was very anxious to meet you; she looks upon you as a great authority.

If she really has talent--of course _you_ would know--you must tell me.

It is not talent I am so tired of, but the pretence of it. She struck me, although wofully unformed and awkward, of course, as rather intelligent.”

”She is intelligence personified,” replied Noel, qualifying it mentally with ”intelligence without cultivation.” He perceived that the young stranger would have no help from Mrs. Lawrence, and he added to himself: ”And totally inexperienced purity alone in Rome.” To be sure, there was the mother; but he had a presentiment that this lady, as guardian, would not be of much avail.