"These ladies have brought my daughter home, and now they return
to the convent," the gentleman explained.
"Ah, you go back to Rome? I've lately come from there. It's very
lovely now," said Madame Merle.
The good sisters, standing with their hands folded into their
sleeves, accepted this statement uncritically; and the master of the
house asked his new visitor how long it was since she had left Rome.
"She came to see me at the convent," said the young girl before the
lady addressed had time to reply.
"I've been more than once, Pansy," Madame Merle declared. "Am I
not your great friend in Rome?"
"I remember the last time best," said Pansy, "because you told me
I should come away."
"Did you tell her that?" the child's father asked.
"I hardly remember. I told her what I thought would please her. I've
been in Florence a week. I hoped you would come to see me."
"I should have done so if I had known you were there. One doesn't
know such things by inspiration- though I suppose one ought. You had
better sit down."
These two speeches were made in a particular tone of voice- a tone
half-lowered and carefully quiet, but as from habit rather than from
any definite need.
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