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Bordereau's talk； a strange mocking lambency which must have been a part
of her adventurous youth and which had outlived passions and faculties。
Nonetheless I asked； 〃Wouldn't it be possible for you to come down
there yourself？ Wouldn't it do you good to sit there in the shade；
in the sweet air？〃
〃Oh； sir； when I move out of this it won't be to sit in the air；
and I'm afraid that any that may be stirring around me won't
be particularly sweet！ It will be a very dark shade indeed。
But that won't be just yet；〃 Miss Bordereau continued cannily；
as if to correct any hopes that this courageous allusion to
the last receptacle of her mortality might lead me to entertain。
〃I have sat here many a day and I have had enough of arbors in my time。
But I'm not afraid to wait till I'm called。〃
Miss Tita had expected some interesting talk； but perhaps she
found it less genial on her aunt's side （considering that I
had been sent for with a civil intention） than she had hoped。
As if to give the conversation a turn that would put
our companion in a light more favorable she said to me；
〃Didn't I tell you the other night that she had sent me out？
You see that I can do what I like！〃
〃Do you pity herdo you teach her to pity herself？〃
Miss Bordereau demanded before I had time to answer this appeal。
〃She has a much easier life than I had when I was her age。〃
〃You must remember that it has been quite open to me to think
you rather inhuman。〃
〃Inhuman？ That's what the poets used to call the women a hundred years ago。
Don't try that； you won't do as well as they！〃 Juliana declared。
〃There is no more poetry in the worldthat I know of at least。
But I won't bandy words with you；〃 she pursued； and I well remember
the old…fashioned； artificial sound she gave to the speech。
〃You have made me talk； talk！ It isn't good for me at all。〃
I got up at this and told her I would take no more of her time； but she
detained me to ask； 〃Do you remember； the day I saw you about the rooms；
that you offered us the use of your gondola？〃 And when I assented；
promptly； struck again with her disposition to make a 〃good thing〃
of being there and wondering what she now had in her eye； she broke out；
〃Why don't you take that girl out in it and show her the place？〃
〃Oh； dear Aunt； what do you want to do with me？〃 cried the 〃girl〃
with a piteous quaver。 〃I know all about the place！〃
〃Well then； go with him as a cicerone！〃 said Miss Bordereau
with an effort of something like cruelty in her implacable
power of retortan incongruous suggestion that she was
a sarcastic； profane； cynical old woman。 〃Haven't we heard
that there have been all sorts of changes in all these years？
You ought to see them and at your age （I don't mean because
you're so young） you ought to take the chances that come。
You're old enough； my dear； and this gentleman won't hurt you。
He will show you the famous sunsets； if they still go
onDO they go on？ The sun set for me so long ago。
But that's not a reason。 Besides； I shall never miss you；
you think you are too important。 Take her to the Piazza；
it used to be very pretty；〃 Miss Bordereau continued； addressing
herself to me。 〃What have they done with the funny old church？
I hope it hasn't tumbled down。 let her look at the shops；
she may take some money； she may buy what she likes。〃
Poor Miss Tita had got up； discountenanced and helpless； and as we stood
there before her aunt it would certainly have seemed to a spectator
of the scene that the old woman was amusing herself at our expense。
Miss Tita protested； in a confusion of exclamations and murmurs；
but I lost no time in saying that if she would do me the honor to accept
the hospitality of my boat I would engage that she should not be bored。
Or if she did not want so much of my company the boat itself；
with the gondolier； was at her service； he was a capital oar
and she might have every confidence。 Miss Tita； without definitely
answering this speech； looked away from me； out of the window；
as if she were going to cry； and I remarked that once we had Miss
Bordereau's approval we could easily come to an understanding。
We would take an hour； whichever she liked； one of the very next days。
As I made my obeisance to the old lady I asked her if she would
kindly permit me to see her again。
For a moment she said nothing； then she inquired； 〃Is it very necessary
to your happiness？〃
〃It diverts me more than I can say。〃
〃You are wonderfully civil。 Don't you know it almost kills ME？〃
〃How can I believe that when I see you more animated； more brilliant
than when I came in？〃
〃That is very true； Aunt；〃 said Miss Tita。 I think it does you good。〃
〃Isn't it touching； the solicitude we each have that
the other shall enjoy herself？〃 sneered Miss Bordereau。
〃If you think me brilliant today you don't know what you
are talking about； you have never seen an agreeable woman。
Don't try to pay me a compliment； I have been spoiled；〃 she went on。
〃My door is shut； but you may sometimes knock。〃
With this she dismissed me； and I left the room。
The latch closed behind me； but Miss Tita； contrary to my hope；
had remained within。 I passed slowly across the hall
and before taking my way downstairs I waited a little。
My hope was answered； after a minute Miss Tita followed me。
〃That's a delightful idea about the Piazza；〃 I said。
〃When will you gotonight； tomorrow？〃
She had been disconcerted； as I have mentioned； but I had
already perceived and I was to observe again that when Miss Tita
was embarrassed she did not （as most women would have done）
turn away from you and try to escape； but came closer； as it were；
with a deprecating； clinging appeal to be spared； to be protected。
Her attitude was perpetually a sort of prayer for assistance；
for explanation； and yet no woman in the world could have been
less of a comedian。 From the moment you were kind to her she
depended on you absolutely； her self…consciousness dropped from
her and she took the greatest intimacy； the innocent intimacy
which was the only thing she could conceive； for granted。
She told me she did not know what had got into her aunt；
she had changed so quickly； she had got some idea。 I replied
that she must find out what the idea was and then let me know；
we would go and have an ice together at Florian's； and she
should tell me while we listened to the band。
〃Oh； it will take me a long time to find out！〃 she said； rather ruefully；
and she could promise me this satisfaction neither for that night nor for
the next。 I was patient now； however； for I felt that I had only to wait；
and in fact at the end of the week； one lovely evening after dinner；
she stepped into my gondola； to which in honor of the occasion I had
attached a second oar。
We swept in the course of five minutes into the Grand Canal；
whereupon she uttered a murmur of ecstasy as fresh as if she
had been a tourist