The Travelling Companions Part 19

PODB. (_considerately, to_ CULCHARD, _who is following_ MISS PRENDERGAST _and him, in acute misery_). Look here, old fellow, Miss Prendergast would like to sit down, I know; so don't you bother about keeping with us if you'd rather _not_, you know! [CULCHARD _murmurs an inarticulate protest_.

MISS P. Surely, Mr. Podbury, you are aware by this time that Mr.

Culchard has a perfect mania for self-sacrifice!

[CULCHARD _drops behind, crushed_.

AMONG THE RUINS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL.

CULCH. (_who has managed to overtake_ MISS T. _and her companion_). Now _do_ oblige me by looking through that gap in the pines towards Lecco. I particularly wish you to observe the effect of light on those cliffs--it's well worth your while.

MISS T. Why, certainly, it's a view that does you infinite credit. Oh, you _didn't_ take any hand in the arrangement? But ain't you afraid if you go around patting the scenery on the head this way, you'll have the lake overflow?

BOB P. Ha-ha-ha! One in the eye for _you_, Culchard!

CULCH. (_with dignity_). Surely one may express a natural enthusiasm without laying oneself open----?

MISS T. Gracious, yes! I should hope you wouldn't want to show your enthusiasm _that_ way--like a j.a.panese n.o.bleman!

CULCH. (_to himself_). Now that's coa.r.s.e--_really_ coa.r.s.e!--(_Aloud._)--I seem to be unable to open my mouth now without some ridiculous distortion----

MISS T. My!--but that's a serious symptom--isn't it? You don't feel like you were going to have lock-jaw, do you, Mr. Culchard?

[CULCHARD _falls back to the rear once more. Later_--MR. VAN BOODELER _has joined the party_; HYPATIA _has contrived to detach her brother_. CULCHARD _has sought refuge with_ PODBURY.

MISS T. (_to_ VAN B.). So that's what kept you? Well, it sounds just too enchanting. But I cann't answer for what Miss Prendergast will say to it. It mayn't suit her notions of propriety.

MR. VAN B. I expect she'll be superior to Britannic prejudices of that kind. I consider your friend a highly cultivated and charming lady, Maud. She produces that impression upon me.

MISS T. I presume, from that, she has shown an intelligent interest in the great Amurrcan novel?

MR. VAN B. Why, yes; it enlists her literary sympathies--she sees all its possibilities.

MISS T. And they're pretty numerous, too. But here she comes. You'd better tell her your plan right now.

MISS P. (_in an earnest undertone to_ BOB, _as they approach, followed by_ CULCH. _and_ POD.). You _must_ try and be sensible about it, Bob; if _you_ are too blind to see that she is only----

BOB (_sulkily_). All _right!_ Haven't I _said_ I'd go? What's the good of _jawing_ about it?

MR. V. B. (_to_ MISS P.). I've been telling my cousin I've been organising a little water-party for this evening--moonlight, mandolins, Menaggio. If you find the alliteration has any attractions, I hope you and your brother will do me the pleasure of----

MISS P. I'm afraid not, thanks. We have all our packing to do. We find we shall have to leave early to-morrow.

[VAN B.'s _face falls_; BOB _listens gloomily to_ MISS T.'s _rather perfunctory expressions of regret_; PODBURY _looks anxious and undecided_; CULCHARD _does his best to control an unseemly joy_.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A Suspension of Hostilities.

SCENE--_The roof of Milan Cathedral; the innumerable statues and fretted pinnacles show in dazzling relief against the intense blue sky. Through the open-work of the parapet is seen the vast Piazza, with its yellow toy tram cars, and the small crawling figures which cast inordinately long shadows. All around is a maze of pale brown roofs, and beyond, the green plain blending on the horizon with dove-coloured clouds in a quivering violet haze._ CULCHARD _is sitting by a small doorway at the foot of a flight of steps leading to the Spire_.

CULCHARD (_meditating_). I think Maud must have seen from the tone in which I said I preferred to remain below, that I object to that cousin of hers perpetually coming about with us as he does. She's far too indulgent to him--a posing, affected prig, always talking about the wonderful things he's _going_ to write! He had the impudence to tell me I didn't know the most elementary laws of the sonnet this morning!

Withering repartee seems to have no effect whatever on him. I wish I had some of Podbury's faculty for flippant chaff! I wonder if he and the Prendergasts really are at Milan. I certainly thought I recognised---- If they are, it's very bad taste of them, after the pointed way in which they left Bellagio. I only hope we shan't----

[_Here the figure of_ MISS PRENDERGAST _suddenly emerges from the door_; CULCHARD _rises and stands aside to let her pa.s.s; she returns his salutation distantly, and pa.s.ses on with her chin in the air; her brother follows, with a side-jerk of recognition._ PODBURY _comes last, and halts undecidedly._

PODB. (_with a rather awkward laugh_). Here we are again, eh? (_Looks after_ MISS P., _hesitates, and finally sits down by_ CULCHARD.) Where's the fascinating Miss Trotter? How do you come to be off duty like this?

[Ill.u.s.tration: SHE Pa.s.sES ON WITH HER CHIN IN THE AIR.]

CULCH. (_stiffly_). The fascinating Miss Trotter is up above with Van Boodeler, so my services are not required.

PODB. Up above? And Hypatia just gone up with Bob! Whew, there'll be ructions presently! Well out of it, you and I! So it's Boodeler's turn now? That's rough on _you_--after Hypatia had whistled poor old Bob off.

As much out in the cold as ever, eh?

CULCH. I am nothing of the kind. I find him distasteful to me, and avoid him as much as I can, that's all. I wish, Podbury, er--I _almost_ wish you could have stayed with me, instead of allowing the Prendergasts to carry you off as they did. You would have kept Van Boodeler in order.

PODB. Much obliged, old chap; but I'm otherwise engaged. Being kept in order myself. Oh, I _like_ it, you know. She's developing my mind like winking. Spent the whole morning at the Brera, mugging up these old Italian Johnnies. They really are clinkers, you know. Raphael, eh?--and Giotto, and Mantegna, and all that lot. As Hypatia says, for intensity of--er--religious feeling, and--and subtlety of symbolism, and--and so on, they simply take the cake--romp in, and the rest nowhere! I'm getting quite the connoisseur, I can tell you!

CULCH. Evidently. I suppose there's no chance of a--a _reconciliation_ up there? [_With some alarm._

PODB. Don't you be afraid. When Hypatia once gets her quills up, they don't subside so easily! Hallo! isn't this old Trotter?

[_That gentleman appears in the doorway._

MR. T. Why, Mr. Podbury, so you've come along here? That's _right_! And how do you like Milan? I like the place first-rate--it's a live city, Sir. And I like this old cathedral, too; it's well constructed--they've laid out money on it. I call it real ornamental, all these little figgers they've stuck around--and not two of 'em a pair either. Now, they might have had 'em all alike, and no one any the wiser up so high as this; but it certainly gives it more variety, too, having them different. Well, I'm going up as high as ever I _can_ go. You two better come along up with me.

ON THE TOP.

MISS P. (_as she perceives_ MISS T. _and her companion_). Now, Bob, pray remember all I've told you! [BOB _turns away, petulantly_.

MISS T. (_aside, to_ VAN B.). I guess the air's got cooler up here, Charley. But if that girl imagines she's going to freeze _me_!

(_Advancing to_ MISS P.) Why, my dear, it's almost too sweet for anything, meeting you again!

MISS P. You're extremely kind, Maud; I wish I could return the compliment; but really, after what took place at Bellagio, I----

MISS T. (_taking her arm_). Well, I'll own up to being pretty horrid--and so were you; but there don't seem any sense in our meeting up here like a couple of strange cats on tiles. I won't fly out any more, there! I'm just dying for a reconciliation; and so is Mr. Van Boodeler. The trouble I've had to console that man! He never met anybody before half so interested in the great Amurrcan Novel. And he's wearying for another talk. So you'd better give that hatchet a handsome funeral, and come along and take pity on him.

[HYP., _after a struggle, yields, half-reluctantly, and allows herself to be taken across to_ MR. VAN B., _who greets her effusively_. MISS T. _leaves them together_.

BOB P. (_who has been prudently keeping in the background till now, decides that his chance has come_). How do you do, Miss Trotter? It's awfully jolly to meet you again like this!

MISS T. Well, I guess that remark would have been more convincing if you'd made it a few minutes earlier.