Where Angels Fear to Tread by E M Forster
Author:E M Forster [Forster, E M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter 7
At about nine oâclock next morning Perfetta went out on to the loggia, not to look at the view, but to throw some dirty water at it. âScusi tanto!â she wailed, for the water spattered a tall young lady who had for some time been tapping at the lower door.
âIs Signor Carella in?â the young lady asked. It was no business of Perfettaâs to be shocked, and the style of the visitor seemed to demand the reception-room. Accordingly she opened its shutters, dusted a round patch on one of the horsehair chairs, and bade the lady do herself the inconvenience of sitting down. Then she ran into Monteriano and shouted up and down its streets until such time as her young master should hear her.
The reception-room was sacred to the dead wife. Her shiny portrait hung upon the wallâsimilar, doubtless, in all respects to the one which would be pasted on her tombstone. A little piece of black drapery had been tacked above the frame to lend a dignity to woe. But two of the tacks had fallen out, and the effect was now rakish, as of a drunkardâs bonnet. A coon song lay open on the piano, and of the two tables one supported Baedekerâs âCentral Italy,â the other Harrietâs inlaid box. And over everything there lay a deposit of heavy white dust, which was only blown off one moment to thicken on another. It is well to be remembered with love. It is not so very dreadful to be forgotten entirely. But if we shall resent anything on earth at all, we shall resent the consecration of a deserted room.
Miss Abbott did not sit down, partly because the antimacassars might harbour fleas, partly because she had suddenly felt faint, and was glad to cling on to the funnel of the stove. She struggled with herself, for she had need to be very calm; only if she was very calm might her behaviour be justified. She had broken faith with Philip and Harriet: she was going to try for the baby before they did. If she failed she could scarcely look them in the face again.
âHarriet and her brother,â she reasoned, âdonât realize what is before them. She would bluster and be rude; he would be pleasant and take it as a joke. Both of themâeven if they offered moneyâwould fail. But I begin to understand the manâs nature; he does not love the child, but he will be touchy about itâand that is quite as bad for us. Heâs charming, but heâs no fool; he conquered me last year; he conquered Mr. Herriton yesterday, and if I am not careful he will conquer us all today, and the baby will grow up in Monteriano. He is terribly strong; Lilia found that out, but only I remember it now.â
This attempt, and this justification of it, were the results of the long and restless night. Miss Abbott had come to believe that she alone could do battle with Gino,
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