His mother and the girls, poor things, were at the Grand Hotel, but he was on the yacht with the Veseys, where they had Lord Whiteroy's cook.Wasn't the food in Venice filthy, and wouldn't they come and look at the yacht? She wasn't very fast, but she was awfully jolly.
His mother might have come if she would, but she wouldn't at first, and now, when she wanted to, there were other people, who naturally wouldn't turn out for her.Mr.Mangler sat down; he alluded with artless resentment to the way, in July, the door of his friends had been closed to him.He was going to Constantinople, but he didn't care--if THEY were going anywhere; meanwhile his mother hoped awfully they would look her up.
Lady Maresfield, if she had given her son any such message, which Rose disbelieved, entertained her hope in a manner compatible with her sitting for half an hour, surrounded by her little retinue, without glancing in the direction of Mrs.Tramore.The girl, however, was aware that this was not a good enough instance of their humiliation; inasmuch as it was rather she who, on the occasion of their last contact, had held off from Lady Maresfield.She was a little ashamed now of not having answered the note in which this affable personage ignored her mother.She couldn't help perceiving indeed a dim movement on the part of some of the other members of the group; she made out an attitude of observation in the high-plumed head of Mrs.Vaughan-Vesey.Mrs.Vesey, perhaps, might have been looking at Captain Jay, for as this gentleman walked back to the hotel with our young lady (they were at the "Britannia," and young Mangler, who clung to them, went in front with Mrs.Tramore) he revealed to Rose that he had some acquaintance with Lady Maresfield's eldest daughter, though he didn't know and didn't particularly want to know, her ladyship.He expressed himself with more acerbity than she had ever heard him use (Christian charity so generally governed his speech) about the young donkey who had been prattling to them.
They separated at the door of the hotel.Mrs.Tramore had got rid of Mr.Mangler, and Bertram Jay was in other quarters.
"If you know Mrs.Vesey, why didn't you go and speak to her? I'm sure she saw you," Rose said.
Captain Jay replied even more circumspectly than usual."Because Ididn't want to leave you."
"Well, you can go now; you're free," Rose rejoined.
"Thank you.I shall never go again."
"That won't be civil," said Rose.
"I don't care to be civil.I don't like her.""Why don't you like her?"
"You ask too many questions."
"I know I do," the girl acknowledged.
Captain Jay had already shaken hands with her, but at this he put out his hand again."She's too worldly," he murmured, while he held Rose Tramore's a moment.
"Ah, you dear!" Rose exclaimed almost audibly as, with her mother, she turned away.
The next morning, upon the Grand Canal, the gondola of our three friends encountered a stately barge which, though it contained several persons, seemed pervaded mainly by one majestic presence.
During the instant the gondolas were passing each other it was impossible either for Rose Tramore or for her companions not to become conscious that this distinguished identity had markedly inclined itself--a circumstance commemorated the next moment, almost within earshot of the other boat, by the most spontaneous cry that had issued for many a day from the lips of Mrs.Tramore."Fancy, my dear, Lady Maresfield has bowed to us!""We ought to have returned it," Rose answered; but she looked at Bertram Jay, who was opposite to her.He blushed, and she blushed, and during this moment was born a deeper understanding than had yet existed between these associated spirits.It had something to do with their going together that afternoon, without her mother, to look at certain out-of-the-way pictures as to which Ruskin had inspired her with a desire to see sincerely.Mrs.Tramore expressed the wish to stay at home, and the motive of this wish--a finer shade than any that even Ruskin had ever found a phrase for--was not translated into misrepresenting words by either the mother or the daughter.At San Giovanni in Bragora the girl and her companion came upon Mrs.
Vaughan-Vesey, who, with one of her sisters, was also endeavouring to do the earnest thing.She did it to Rose, she did it to Captain Jay, as well as to Gianbellini; she was a handsome, long-necked, aquiline person, of a different type from the rest of her family, and she did it remarkably well.She secured our friends--it was her own expression--for luncheon, on the morrow, on the yacht, and she made it public to Rose that she would come that afternoon to invite her mother.When the girl returned to the hotel, Mrs.Tramore mentioned, before Captain Jay, who had come up to their sitting-room, that Lady Maresfield had called."She stayed a long time--at least it seemed long!" laughed Mrs.Tramore.
The poor lady could laugh freely now; yet there was some grimness in a colloquy that she had with her daughter after Bertram Jay had departed.Before this happened Mrs.Vesey's card, scrawled over in pencil and referring to the morrow's luncheon, was brought up to Mrs.
Tramore.
"They mean it all as a bribe," said the principal recipient of these civilities.
"As a bribe?" Rose repeated.