And now Harriet was here--acrid,
indissoluble, large; the same in Italy as in
England--changing her disposition never, and her atmosphere
under protest.
Yet even Harriet was human, and the better for a little
tea. She did not scold Philip for finding Gino out, as she
might reasonably have done. She showered civilities on Miss
Abbott, exclaiming again and again that Caroline's visit was
one of the most fortunate coincidences in the world.
Caroline did not contradict her.
"You see him tomorrow at ten, Philip. Well, don't
forget the blank cheque. Say an hour for the business. No,
Italians are so slow; say two. Twelve o'clock. Lunch.
Well--then it's no good going till the evening train. I can
manage the baby as far as Florence--"
"My dear sister, you can't run on like that. You don't
buy a pair of gloves in two hours, much less a baby."
"Three hours, then, or four; or make him learn English
ways. At Florence we get a nurse--"
"But, Harriet," said Miss Abbott, "what if at first he
was to refuse?"
"I don't know the meaning of the word," said Harriet
impressively. "I've told the landlady that Philip and I
only want our rooms one night, and we shall keep to it."
"I dare say it will be all right. But, as I told you, I
thought the man I met on the Rocca a strange, difficult man."
"He's insolent to ladies, we know. But my brother can
be trusted to bring him to his senses. That woman, Philip,
whom you saw will carry the baby to the hotel.
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