the steamer； and Mrs。 Lander said that Clementina had done just exactly
right； and they both decided； against some impulses of curiosity in
Clementina's heart； that she should not make use of the introduction。
The 'Hotel des Financieres' was mainly frequented by rich Americans full
of ready money； and by rich Russians of large credit。 Better Americans
and worse； went； like the English； to smaller and cheaper hotels； and
Clementina's acquaintance was confined to mothers as shy and
ungrammatical as Mrs。 Lander herself； and daughters blankly indifferent
to her。 Mrs。 Lander drove out every day when it did not rain； and she
took Clementina with her； because the doctor said it would do them both
good； but otherwise the girl remained pent in their apartment。 The
doctor found her a teacher； and she kept on with her French； and began to
take lessons in Italian； she spoke with no one but her teacher； except
when the doctor came。 At the table d'hote she heard talk of the things
that people seemed to come to Florence for： pictures； statues； palaces；
famous places； and it made her ashamed of not knowing about them。 But
she could not go to see these things alone； and Mrs。 Lander； in the
content she felt with all her circumstances； seemed not to suppose that
Clementina could care for anything but the comfort of the hotel and the
doctor's visits。 When the girl began to get letters from home in answer
to the first she had written back； boasting how beautiful Florence was；
they assumed that she was very gay； and demanded full accounts of her
pleasures。 Her brother Jim gave something of the village news； but he
said he supposed that she would not care for that； and she would probably
be too proud to speak to them when she came home。 The Richlings had
called in to share the family satisfaction in Clementina's first
experiences； and Mrs。 Richling wrote her very sweetly of their happiness
in them。 She charged her from the rector not to forget any chance of
self…improvement in the allurements of society； but to make the most of
her rare opportunities。 She said that they had got a guide…book to
Florence； with a plan of the city； and were following her in the
expeditions they decided she must be making every day； they were reading
up the Florentine history in Sismondi's Italian Republics； and she bade
Clementina be sure and see all the scenes of Savonarola's martyrdom； so
that they could talk them over together when she returned。
Clexnentina wondered what Mrs。 Richling would think if she told her that
all she knew of Florence was what she overheard in the talk of the girls
in the hotel； who spoke before her of their dances and afternoon teas；
and evenings at the opera； and drives in the Cascine； and parties to
Fiesole； as if she were not by。
The days and weeks passed； until Carnival was half gone； and Mrs。 Lander
noticed one day that Clementina appeared dull。 〃You don't seem to get
much acquainted？〃 she suggested。
〃Oh； the'e's plenty of time；〃 said Clementina。
〃I wish the'e was somebody you could go round with； and see the place。
Shouldn't yon like to see the place？ 〃 Mrs。 Lander pursued。
〃There's no hurry about it； Mrs。 Lander。 It will stay as long as we do。〃
Mrs。 Lander was thoughtfully silent。 Then she said； 〃I declare； I've got
half a mind to make you send that letta to Miss Milray； after all。 What
difference if Mrs。 Milray did act so ugly to you？ He never did； and
she's his sista。〃
〃Oh； I don't want to send it； Mrs。 Landa； you mustn't ask me to。 I shall
get along；〃 said Clementina。 The recognition of her forlornness deepened
it； but she was cheerfuller； for no reason； the next morning； and that
afternoon； the doctor unexpectedly came upon a call which he made haste
to say was not professional。
〃I've just come from another patient of mine； and I promised to ask if
you had not crossed on the same ship with a brother of hers；Mr。
Milray。〃
Celementina and Mrs。 Lander looked guiltily at each other。 〃I guess we
did；〃 Mrs。 Lander owned at last； with a reluctant sigh。
〃Then； she says you have a letter for her。〃
The doctor spoke to both； but his looks confessed that he was not
ignorant of the fact when Mrs。 Lander admitted； 〃Well Clementina； he'e；
has。〃
〃She wants to know why you haven't delivered it；〃 the doctor blurted out。
Mrs。 Lander looked at Clementina。 〃I guess she ha'n't quite got round to
it yet； have you； Clementina？〃
The doctor put in： 〃Well； Miss Milray is rather a dangerous person to
keep waiting。 If you don't deliver it pretty soon； I shouldn't be
surprised if she came to get it。〃 Dr。 Welwright was a young man in the
early thirties； with a laugh that a great many ladies said had done more
than any one thing for them； and he now prescribed it for Clementina。
But it did not seem to help her in the trouble her face betrayed。
Mrs。 Lander took the word； 〃Well； I wouldn't say it to everybody。 But
you're our doctor； and I guess you won't mind it。 We don't like the way
Mrs。 Milray acted to Clementina； in the ship； and we don't want to be
beholden to any of her folks。 I don't know as Clementina wants me to
tell you just what it was； and I won't； but that's the long and sho't of
it。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 the doctor said。 〃I've never met Mrs。 Milray； but Miss
Milray has such a pleasant house； and likes to get young people about
her。 There are a good many young people in your hotel； though； and I
suppose you all have a very good time here together。〃 He ended by
speaking to Clementina； and now he said he had done his errand； and must
be going。
When he was gone； Mrs。 Lander faltered； 〃I don't know but what we made a
mistake； Clementina。〃
It's too late to worry about it now；〃 said the girl。
We ha'n't bound to stay in Florence；〃 said Mrs。 Lander； thoughtfully。
〃I only took the rooms by the week； and we can go； any time； Clementina；
if you are uncomf'table bein' here on Miss Milray's account。 We could go
to Rome； they say Rome's a nice place； or to Egypt。〃
Mrs。 Milray's in Egypt；〃 Clementina suggested。
That's true；〃 Mrs。 Lander admitted； with a sigh。 After a while she went
on； 〃I don't know as we've got any right to keep the letter。 It belongs
to her； don't it？〃
〃I guess it belongs to me； as much as it does to her；〃 said Clementina。
〃If it's to her； it's for me。 I am not going to send it； Mrs。 Landa。〃
They were still in this conclusion when early in the following afternoon
Miss Milray's cards were brought up for Mrs。 Lander and Miss Claxon。
〃Well； I decla'e！〃 cried Mrs。 Lander。 〃That docta： must have gone
straight and told her what we said。〃
〃He had no right to；〃 said Clementina； but neither of them was
displeased； and after it was over； Mrs。 Lander said that any one would
have thought the call was for her； instead of Clementina； from the way
Miss Milray kept talking to her。 She formed a high opinion of her； and
Miss Milray put Clementina in mind of Mr。 Milray； she had the same hair
of chiseled silver； and the same smile； she moved like him； and talked
like him； but with a greater liveliness。 She asked fondly after him；
and made Clementina tell her if he seemed quite well； and in good
spirits； she was civilly interested in Mrs。 Milray's health。 At the
embarrassment which showed itself in the girl； she laughed and said；
〃Don't imagine I don't know all about it； Miss Claxon！ My sister…in…law
has owned up very handsomely； she isn't half bad； as the English say； and
I think she likes owning up if she can do it safely。〃
〃And you don't think；〃 asked Mrs。 Lander； 〃that Clementina done wrong to
dance that way？〃
Clementina blushed； and Miss Milray laughed again。 〃If you'll let Miss
Claxon come to a little party I'm giving she may do her dance at my
house； but she sha'n't be obliged to do it； or anything she doesn't like。
Don't say she hasn't a gown ready； or something of that kind！ You don't
know the resources of Florence； and how the dress makers here doat upon
doing impossible things in no time at all； and being ready before they
promise。 If you'll put Miss Claxon in my hands； I'll see that she's
dressed for my dance。 I live out on one of the hills over there； that
you see from your windows〃she nodded toward them〃in a beautiful
villa； too cold for winter； and too hot for summer； but I think Miss
Claxon can endure its discomfort for a day； if you can spare her； and she
will consent to leave you to the tender mercies of your maid； and 〃Miss
Milray paused at the kind of unresponsive blank to which she found
herself talking； and put up her lorgnette； to glance from Mrs。 Lander to
Clementina。 The girl said； with embarrassment； 〃I don't think I ought to
leave Mrs。 1anda； just now。 She isn't very well； and I shouldn't like to
leave her alone。〃
〃But we're just as much obliged to you as if she could come；〃 Mrs。 Lander
interrupted； I and later on； maybe she can。 You see； we han't got any
maid； yit。 Well； we did have one at Woodlake； but she made us do so many
things for her； that we thought we should like to do a few things for
ouaselves； awhile。〃
If Miss Milray perhaps did not conceive the situation； exactly； she said；
Oh； they were quite right in that； but she might count upon Miss Claxon
for her dance； might not she； and might not she do anything in her power
for them？ She rose to go； but Mrs。 Lander took her at her word； so far
as to say； Why； yes； if she could tell Clementina the best place to get a
dress she guessed the child would be glad enough to come to the dance。
〃Tell her！〃 Miss Milray cried。 〃I'll take her！ Put on your hat； my
dear；〃 she said to Clementina； 〃and come with me now。 My carriage is at
your door。〃
Clementina looked at Mrs。 Lander； who said； 〃Go； of cou'se； child。 I
wish I could go； too。〃
〃Do come； too；〃 Miss Milray entreated。
〃No； no；〃 said Mrs。 Lander； flattered。 〃I a'n't feeling very well； to…
day。 I guess I'm better off at home。 But don't you hurry back on my
account； Clementina。〃 While the girl was gone to put on her hat she
talked on about her。 〃She's the best gul in the wo'ld； and she won't be
one of the poorest； and I shall feel that I'm doin' just what Mr。 Landa
would have wanted I should。