按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Well； you are a nice person to have professed things！〃
But historic truth compels me to declare that Tita Bordereau's
countenance expressed unqualified pleasure in seeing her late
aunt's lodger。 That touched him extremely； and he thought
it simplified his situation until he found it did not。
I was as kind to her that evening as I knew how to be；
and I walked about the garden with her for half an hour。
There was no explanation of any sort between us； I did not ask
her why she had not answered my letter。 Still less did I repeat
what I had said to her in that communication； if she chose to let
me suppose that she had forgotten the position in which Miss
Bordereau surprised me that night and the effect of the discovery
on the old woman I was quite willing to take it that way：
I was grateful to her for not treating me as if I had
killed her aunt。
We strolled and strolled and really not much passed between us
save the recognition of her bereavement； conveyed in my manner
and in a visible air that she had of depending on me now；
since I let her see that I took an interest in her。
Miss Tita had none of the pride that makes a person wish
to preserve the look of independence； she did not in the least
pretend that she knew at present what would become of her。
I forebore to touch particularly on that； however； for I certainly
was not prepared to say that I would take charge of her。
I was cautious； not ignobly； I think； for I felt that her
knowledge of life was so small that in her unsophisticated
vision there would be no reason whysince I seemed to pity her
I should not look after her。 She told me how her aunt had died；
very peacefully at the last； and how everything had been done
afterward by the care of her good friends （fortunately； thanks
to me； she said； smiling； there was money in the house；
and she repeated that when once the Italians like you they
are your friends for life）； and when we had gone into this
she asked me about my giro； my impressions； the places
I had seen。 I told her what I could； making it up partly；
I am afraid； as in my depression I had not seen much；
and after she had heard me she exclaimed； quite as if she
had forgotten her aunt and her sorrow； 〃Dear； dear； how much
I should like to do such thingsto take a little journey！〃
It came over me for the moment that I ought to propose some tour；
say I would take her anywhere she liked； and I remarked
at any rate that some excursionto give her a change
might be managed： we would think of it； talk it over。
I said never a word to her about the Aspern documents； asked no
questions as to what she had ascertained or what had otherwise
happened with regard to them before Miss Bordereau's death。
It was not that I was not on pins and needles to know； but that I
thought it more decent not to betray my anxiety so soon after
the catastrophe。 I hoped she herself would say something； but she
never glanced that way； and I thought this natural at the time。
Later however； that night； it occurred to me that her silence
was somewhat strange； for if she had talked of my movements；
of anything so detached as the Giorgione at Castelfranco； she might
have alluded to what she could easily remember was in my mind。
It was not to be supposed that the emotion produced by her aunt's
death had blotted out the recollection that I was interested
in that lady's relics； and I fidgeted afterward as it came
to me that her reticence might very possibly mean simply
that nothing had been found。 We separated in the garden
（it was she who said she must go in）； now that she was alone
in the rooms I felt that （judged； at any rate； by Venetian ideas）
I was on rather a different footing in regard to visiting her there。
As I shook hands with her for goodnight I asked her if she
had any general planhad thought over what she had better do。
〃Oh； yes； oh； yes； but I haven't settled anything yet；〃
she replied quite cheerfully。 Was her cheerfulness explained
by the impression that I would settle for her？
I was glad the next morning that we had neglected practical questions；
for this gave me a pretext for seeing her again immediately。
There was a very practical question to be touched upon。
I owed it to her to let her know formally that of course I did not expect
her to keep me on as a lodger； and also to show some interest in her
own tenure； what she might have on her hands in the way of a lease。
But I was not destined； as it happened； to converse with her for more
than an instant on either of these points。 I sent her no message；
I simply went down to the sala and walked to and fro there。
I knew she would come out； she would very soon discover I was there。
Somehow I preferred not to be shut up with her； gardens and big
halls seemed better places to talk。 It was a splendid morning；
with something in the air that told of the waning of the long
Venetian summer； a freshness from the sea which stirred the
flowers in the garden and made a pleasant draught in the house；
less shuttered and darkened now than when the old woman was alive。
It was the beginning of autumn； of the end of the golden months。
With this it was the end of my experimentor would be in the course
of half an hour； when I should really have learned that the papers
had been reduced to ashes。 After that there would be nothing left
for me but to go to the station； for seriously （and as it struck me
in the morning light） I could not linger there to act as guardian
to a piece of middle…aged female helplessness。 If she had not saved
the papers wherein should I be indebted to her？ I think I winced
a little as I asked myself how much； if she HAD saved them；
I should have to recognize and； as it were； to reward such a courtesy。
Might not that circumstance after all saddle me with a guardianship？
If this idea did not make me more uncomfortable as I walked up
and down it was because I was convinced I had nothing to look to。
If the old woman had not destroyed everything before she pounced
upon me in the parlor she had done so afterward。
It took Miss Tita rather longer than I had expected to guess that I was there；
but when at last she came out she looked at me without surprise。
I said to her that I had been waiting for her； and she asked why I had not let
her know。 I was glad the next day that I had checked myself before remarking
that I had wished to see if a friendly intuition would not tell her：
it became a satisfaction to me that I had not indulged in that rather
tender joke。 What I did say was virtually the truththat I was too nervous；
since I expected her now to settle my fate。
〃Your fate？〃 said Miss Tita； giving me a queer look；
and as she spoke I noticed a rare change in her。
She was different from what she had been the evening before
less natural； less quiet。 She had been crying the day before and
she was not crying now； and yet she struck me as less confident。
It was as if something had happened to her dur