I want to tell you something I mean； I must〃She found herself panting
and breathless。 〃You ought to know itMr。 Gregory isI mean we are〃
She stopped and she saw that she need not say more。
In the days that followed before the time that Hinkle had xed to leave
Venice； he tried to come as he had been coming； to see Mrs。 Lander； but
he evaded her when she wished to send him out with Clementina。 His
quaintness had a heartache in it for her； and he was boyishly simple in
his failure to hide his suffering。 He had no explicit right to suffer；
for he had asked nothing and been denied nothing； but perhaps for this
reason she suffered the more keenly for him。
A senseless resentment against Gregory for spoiling their happiness crept
into her heart； and she wished to show Hinkle how much she valued his
friendship at any risk and any cost。 When this led her too far she took
herself to task with a severity which hurt him too。 In the midst of the
impulses on which she acted； there were times when she had a confused
longing to appeal to him for counsel as to how she ought to behave toward
him。
There was no one else whom she could appeal to。 Mrs。 Lander； after her
first warning； had not spoken of him again； though Clementina could feel
in the grimness with which she regarded her variable treatment of him
that she was silently hoarding up a sum of inculpation which would crush
her under its weight when it should fall upon her。 She seemed to be
growing constantly better； now； and as the interval since her last attack
widened behind her； she began to indulge her appetite with a recklessness
which Clementina； in a sense of her own unworthiness； was helpless to
deal with。 When she ventured to ask her once whether she ought to eat of
something that was very unwholesome for her； Mrs。 Lander answered that
she had taken her case into her own hands； now； for she knew more about
it than all the doctors。 She would thank Clementina not to bother about
her； she added that she was at least not hurting anybody but herself； and
she hoped Clementina would always be able to say as much。
Clementina wished that Hinkle would go away； but not before she had
righted herself with him； and he lingered his month out； and seemed as
little able to go as she to let him。 She had often to be cheerful for
both； when she found it too much to be cheerful for herself。 In his
absence she feigned free and open talks with him； and explained
everything； and experienced a kind of ghostly comfort in his imagined
approval and forgiveness； but in his presence； nothing really happened
except the alternation of her kindness and unkindness； in which she was
too kind and then too unkind。
The morning of the' day he was at last to leave Venice； he came to say
good bye。 He did not ask for Mrs。 Lander； when the girl received him；
and he did not give himself time to lose courage before he began； 〃Miss
Clementina； I don't know whether I ought to speak to you after what I
understood you to mean about Mr。 Gregory。〃 He looked steadfastly at her
but she did not answer； and he went on。 〃There's just one chance in a
million； though； that I didn't understand you rightly； and I've made up
my mind that I want to take that chance。 May I？〃 She tried to speak；
but she could not。 〃If I was wrongif there was nothing between you and
himcould there ever be anything beween you and me？〃
His pleading looks entreated her even more than his words。
〃There was something；〃 she answered； 〃with him。〃
〃And I mustn't know what；〃 the young man said patiently。
〃Yesyes！〃 she returned eagerly。 〃Oh； yes！ I want you to knowI want
to tell you。 I was only sixteen yea's old； and he said that he oughtn't
to have spoken； we were both too young。 But last winta he spoke again。
He said that he had always felt bound〃 She stopped； and he got infirmly
to his feet。 〃I wanted to tell you from the fust； but〃
〃How could you？ You couldn't。 I haven't anything more to say； if you
are bound to him。〃
〃He is going to be a missionary and he wanted me to say that I would
believe just as he did； and I couldn't。 But I thought that it would come
right； andyes； I felt bound to him； too。 That is allI can't explain
it！〃
〃Oh； I understand！〃 he returned； listlessly。
〃And do you blame me for not telling before？〃 She made an involuntary
movement toward him； a pathetic gesture which both entreated and
compassionated。
〃There's nobody to blame。 You have tried to do just right by me； as well
as him。 Well； I've got my answer。 Mrs。 Landercan I〃
〃Why； she isn't up yet； Mr。 Hinkle。〃 Clementina put all her pain for him
into the expression of their regret。
〃Then I'll have to leave my good…bye for her with you。 I don't believe I
can come back again。〃 He looked round as if he were dizzy。 〃Good…bye；〃
he said； and offered his hand。 It was cold as clay。
When he was gone； Clementina went into Mrs： Lander's room； and gave her
his message。
〃Couldn't he have come back this aftanoon to see me； if he ain't goin'
till five？〃 she demanded jealously。
〃He said he couldn't come back；〃 Clementina answered sadly。
The woman turned her head on her pillow and looked at the girl's face。
〃Oh！〃 she said for all comment。
XXXI。
The Milrays came a month later； to seek a milder sun than they had left
burning in Florence。 The husband and wife had been sojourning there
since their arrival from Egypt； but they had not been his sister's
guests； and she did not now pretend to be of their party； though the same
train； even the same carriage； had brought her to Venice with them。 They
went to a hotel； and Miss Milray took lodgings where she always spent her
Junes； before going to the Tyrol for the summer。
〃You are wonderfully improved； every way；〃 Mrs。 Milray said to Clementina
when they met。 〃I knew you would be； if Miss Milray took you in hand；
and I can see she has。 What she doesn't know about the world isn't worth
knowing！ I hope she hasn't made you too worldly？ But if she has； she's
taught you how to keep from showing it； you're just as innocent…looking
as ever； and that's the main thing； you oughtn't to lose that。 You
wouldn't dance a skirt dance now before a ship's company； but if you did；
no one would suspect that you knew any better。 Have you forgiven me；
yet？ Well； I didn't use you very well； Clementina； and I never pretended
I did。 I've eaten a lot of humble pie for that； my dear。 Did Miss
Milray tell you that I wrote to her about it？ Of course you won't say
how she told you； but she ought to have done me the justice to say that I
tried to be a friend at court with her for you。 If she didn't； she
wasn't fair。〃
〃She neva said anything against you； Mrs。 Milray；〃 Clementina answered。
〃Discreet as ever； my dear！ I understand！ And I hope you understand
about that old affair； too； by this time。 It was a complication。 I had
to get back at Lioncourt somehow； and I don't honestly think now that his
admiration for a young girl was a very wholesome thing for her。 But
never mind。 You had that Boston goose in Florence； too； last winter；
and I suppose he gobbled up what little Miss Milray had left of me。 But
she's charming。 I could go down on my knees to her art when she really
tries to finish any one。〃
Clementina noticed that Mrs。 Milray had got a new way of talking。 She
had a chirpiness； and a lift in her inflections； which if it was not
exactly English was no longer Western American。 Clementina herself in
her association with Hinkle had worn off her English rhythm； and in her
long confinement to the conversation of Mrs。 Lander； she had reverted to
her clipped Yankee accent。 Mrs。 Milray professed to like it； and said it
brought back so delightfully those pleasant days at Middlemount； when
Clementina really was a child。 〃I met somebody at Cairo； who seemed very
glad to hear about you； though he tried to seem not。 Can you guess who
it was？ I see that you never could； in the world！ We got quite chummy
one day； when we were going out to the pyramids together； and he gave
himself away； finely。 He's a simple soul！ But when they're in love
they're all so！ It was a little queer； colloguing with the ex…headwaiter
on society terms； but the head…waitership was merely an episode； and the
main thing is that he is very talented； and is going to be a minister。
It's a pity he's so devoted to his crazy missionary scheme。 Some one
ought to get hold of him； and point him in the direction of a rich New
York congregation。 He'd find heathen enough among them； and he could do
the greatest amount of good with their money； I tried to talk it into
him。 I suppose you saw him in Florence； this spring？〃 she suddenly
asked。
〃Yes；〃 Clementina answered briefly。
〃And you didn't make it up together。 I got that much out of Miss Milray。
Well； if he were here； I should find out why。 But I don't suppose you
would tell me。〃 She waited a moment to see if Clementina would； and then
she said； 〃It's a pity； for I've a notion I could help you； and I think I
owe you a good turn； for the way I behaved about your dance。 But if you
don't want my help； you don't。〃
〃I would say so if I did； Mrs。 Milray；〃 said Clementina。 〃I was hu't；
at the time； but I don't care anything for it； now。 I hope you won't
think about it any more！〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Mrs。 Milray； 〃 I'll try not to；〃 and she laughed。 〃But
I should like to do something to prove my repentance。〃
Clementina perceived that for some reason she would rather have more than
less cause for regret； and that she was mocking her； but she was without
the wish or the power to retaliate； and she did not try to fathom Mrs。
Milray's motives。 Most motives in life； even bad motives； lie nearer the
surface than most people commonly pretend； and she might not have had to
dig deeper into Mrs。 Milray's nature for hers than that layer of her
consciousness where she was aware that Clementina was a pet of her
sister…in…law。 For no better reason she herself made a pet of Mrs。
Lander； whose dislike of Miss Milray was not hard to divine； and whose
willingness to punish her through Clementina was akin to her own。 The
sick woman was easily flatt