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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 just arrived。 She had forgotten how splendid
the great waterway looked on a clear； hot summer evening；
and how the sense of floating between marble palaces and
reflected lights disposed the mind to sympathetic talk。
We floated long and far； and though Miss Tita gave no high…pitched
voice to her satisfaction I felt that she surrendered herself。
She was more than pleased； she was transported； the whole thing
was an immense liberation。 The gondola moved with slow strokes；
to give her time to enjoy it； and she listened to the plash
of the oars； which grew louder and more musically liquid as we
passed into narrow canals； as if it were a revelation of Venice。
When I asked her how long it was since she had been in a boat
she answered； 〃Oh； I don't know； a long timenot since my aunt
began to be ill。〃 This was not the only example she gave me
of her extreme vagueness about the previous years and the line
which marked off the period when Miss Bordereau flourished。
I was not at liberty to keep her out too long； but we
took a considerable GIRL before going to the Piazza。
I asked her no questions； keeping the conversation on purpose
away from her domestic situation and the things I wanted to know；
I poured treasures of information about Venice into her ears；
described Florence and Rome； discoursed to her on the charms
and advantages of travel。 She reclined； receptive； on the deep
leather cushions； turned her eyes conscientiously to everything
I pointed out to her； and never mentioned to me till sometime
afterward that she might be supposed to know Florence better
than I； as she had lived there for years with Miss Bordereau。
At last she asked； with the shy impatience of a child； 〃Are we
not really going to the Piazza？ That's what I want to see！〃
I immediately gave the order that we should go straight；
and then we sat silent with the expectation of arrival。
As some time still passed； however； she said suddenly； of her
own movement； 〃I have found out what is the matter with my aunt：
she is afraid you will go！〃
〃What has put that into her head？〃
〃She has had an idea you have not been happy。 That is why
she is different now。〃
〃You mean she wants to make me happier？〃
〃Well； she wants you not to go； she wants you to stay。〃
〃I suppose you mean on account of the rent；〃 I remarked candidly。
Miss Tita's candor showed itself a match for my own。
〃Yes； you know； so that I shall have more。〃
〃How much does she want you to have？〃 I asked； laughing。
〃She ought to fix the sum； so that I may stay till it's made up。〃
〃Oh； that wouldn't please me；〃 said Miss Tita。 〃It would be unheard of；
your taking that trouble。〃
〃But suppose I should have my own reasons for staying in Venice？〃
〃Then it would be better for you to stay in some other house。〃
〃And what would your aunt say to that？〃
〃She wouldn't like it at all。 But I should think you would do well to give
up your reasons and go away altogether。〃
〃Dear Miss Tita；〃 I said； 〃it's not so easy to give them up！〃
She made no immediate answer to this； but after a moment she broke out：
〃I think I know what your reasons are！〃
〃I daresay； because the other night I almost told you how I wish
you would help me to make them good。〃
〃I can't do that without being false to my aunt。〃
〃What do you mean； being false to her？〃
〃Why； she would never consent to what you want。 She has been asked；
she has been written to。 It made her fearfully angry。〃
〃Then she HAS got papers of value？〃 I demanded quickly。
〃Oh； she has got everything！〃 sighed Miss Tita with a curious weariness；
a sudden lapse into gloom。
These words caused all my pulses to throb； for I regarded them
as precious evidence。 For some minutes I was too agitated to speak；
and in the interval the gondola approached the Piazzetta。
After we had disembarked I asked my companion whether she would
rather walk round the square or go and sit at the door of the cafe；
to which she replied that she would do whichever I liked best
I must only remember again how little time she had。 I assured her there
was plenty to do both； and we made the circuit of the long arcades。
Her spirits revived at the sight of the bright shop windows； and she
lingered and stopped； admiring or disapproving of their contents；
asking me what I thought of things； theorizing about prices。
My attention wandered from her； her words of a while before；
〃Oh； she has got everything！〃 echoed so in my consciousness。
We sat down at last in the crowded circle at Florian's； finding
an unoccupied table among those that were ranged in the square。
It was a splendid night and all the world was out…of…doors；
Miss Tita could not have wished the elements more auspicuous for
her return to society。 I saw that she enjoyed it even more than
she told； she was agitated with the multitude of her impressions。
She had forgotten what an attractive thing the world is；
and it was coming over her that somehow she had for the best years
of her life been cheated of it。 This did not make her angry；
but as she looked all over the charming scene her face had； in spite
of its smile of appreciation； the flush of a sort of wounded surprise。
She became silent； as if she were thinking with a secret sadness
of opportunities； forever lost； which ought to have been easy；
and this gave me a chance to say to her； 〃Did you mean a while ago
that your aunt has a plan of keeping me on by admitting me occasionally
to her presence？〃
〃She thinks it will make a difference with you if you sometimes see her。
She wants you so much to stay that she is willing to make that concession。〃
〃And what good does she consider that I think it will do me to see her？〃
〃I don't know； she thinks it's interesting；〃 said Miss Tita simply。
〃You told her you found it so。〃
〃So I did； but everyone doesn't think so。〃
〃No； of course not； or more people would try。〃
〃Well； if she is capable of making that reflection she
is capable of making this further one；〃 I went on：
〃that I must have a particular reason for not doing as others do；
in spite of the interest she offersfor not leaving her alone。〃
Miss Tita looked as if she failed to grasp this rather
complicated proposition； so I continued； 〃If you have not told
her what I said to you the other night may she not at least
have guessed it？〃
〃I don't know； she is very suspicious。〃
〃But she has not been made so by indiscreet curiosity； by persecution？〃
〃No； no； it isn't that；〃 said Miss Tita； turning on me
a somewhat troubled face。 〃I don't know how to say it：
it's on account of somethingages ago； before I was born
in her life。〃
〃Something？ What sort of thing？〃 I asked as if I myself could
have no idea。
〃Oh； she has never told