He was quite
sure never to cross the Channel, and Lilia drew freely on
her fancy in the reply.
At first she had seen a few English people, for
Monteriano was not the end of the earth. One or two
inquisitive ladies, who had heard at home of her quarrel
with the Herritons, came to call. She was very sprightly,
and they thought her quite unconventional, and Gino a
charming boy, so all that was to the good. But by May the
season, such as it was, had finished, and there would be no
one till next spring. As Mrs. Herriton had often observed,
Lilia had no resources. She did not like music, or reading,
or work. Her one qualification for life was rather blowsy
high spirits, which turned querulous or boisterous according
to circumstances. She was not obedient, but she was
cowardly, and in the most gentle way, which Mrs. Herriton
might have envied, Gino made her do what he wanted. At
first it had been rather fun to let him get the upper hand.
But it was galling to discover that he could not do
otherwise. He had a good strong will when he chose to use
it, and would not have had the least scruple in using bolts
and locks to put it into effect. There was plenty of
brutality deep down in him, and one day Lilia nearly touched
it.
It was the old question of going out alone.
"I always do it in England."
"This is Italy."
"Yes, but I'm older than you, and I'll settle."
"I am your husband," he said, smiling. They had
finished their mid-day meal, and he wanted to go and sleep.
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