He was about to say
exactly what he thought about the thing from beginning to
end. But before he could do so Harriet also had seen Miss
Abbott. She uttered a shrill cry of joy.
"You, Caroline, here of all people!" And in spite of
the heat she darted up the stairs and imprinted an
affectionate kiss upon her friend.
Philip had an inspiration. "You will have a lot to tell
Miss Abbott, Harriet, and she may have as much to tell you.
So I'll pay my call on Signor Carella, as you suggested, and
see how things stand."
Miss Abbott uttered some noise of greeting or alarm. He
did not reply to it or approach nearer to her. Without even
paying the cabman, he escaped into the street.
"Tear each other's eyes out!" he cried, gesticulating at
the facade of the hotel. "Give it to her, Harriet! Teach
her to leave us alone. Give it to her, Caroline! Teach her
to be grateful to you. Go it, ladies; go it!"
Such people as observed him were interested, but did not
conclude that he was mad. This aftermath of conversation is
not unknown in Italy.
He tried to think how amusing it was; but it would not
do--Miss Abbott's presence affected him too personally.
Either she suspected him of dishonesty, or else she was
being dishonest herself. He preferred to suppose the
latter. Perhaps she had seen Gino, and they had prepared
some elaborate mortification for the Herritons. Perhaps
Gino had sold the baby cheap to her for a joke: it was just
the kind of joke that would appeal to him.
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