ragged lady, v2-第28章
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nearest 'traghetto'； and bargained at an expense consistent with his
salary； to have himself rowed back to his own garden…gate。
The rest of the day was an era of better feeling between Mrs。 Lander and
her host than they had ever known； and at dinner he brought in with his
own hand a dish which he said he had caused to be specially made for her。
It was so tempting in odor and complexion that Mrs。 Lander declared she
must taste it； though as she justly said； she had eaten too much already；
when it had once tasted it she ate it all； against Clementina's
protestations； she announced at the end that every bite had done her
good； and that she never felt better in her life。 She passed a happy
evening； with renewed faith in the air of the lagoon； her sole regret now
was that Mr。 Lander had not lived to try it with her； for if he had she
was sure he would have been alive at that moment。
She allowed herself to be got to bed rather earlier than usual； before
Clementina dropped asleep she heard her breathing with long； easy； quiet
respirations； and she lost the fear of the landlord's dish which had
haunted her through the evening。 She was awakened in the morning by a
touch on her shoulder。 Maddalena hung over her with a frightened face；
and implored her to come and look at the signora； who seemed not at all
well。 Clementina ran into her room； and found her dead。 She must have
died some hours before without a struggle； for the face was that of
sleep； and it had a dignity and beauty which it had not worn in her life
of self…indulgent wilfulness for so many years that the girl had never
seen it look so before。
XXXIV。
The vice…consul was not sure how far his powers went in the situation
with which Mrs。 Lander had finally embarrassed him。 But he met the new
difficulties with patience； and he agreed with Clementina that they ought
to see if Mrs。 Lander had left any written expression of her wishes
concerning the event。 She had never spoken of such a chance； but had
always looked forward to getting well and going home； so far as the girl
knew； and the most careful search now brought to light nothing that bore
upon it。 In the absence of instructions to the contrary； they did what
they must； and the body； emptied of its life of senseless worry and
greedy care； was laid to rest in the island cemetery of Venice。
When all was over； the vice…consul ventured an observation which he had
hitherto delicately withheld。 The question of Mrs。 Lander's kindred had
already been discussed between him and Clementina； and he now felt that
another question had duly presented itself。 〃You didn't notice；〃 he
suggested； 〃anything like a will when we went over the papers？〃 He had
looked carefully for it； expecting that there might have been some
expression of Mrs。 Lander's wishes in it。 〃Because；〃 he added； 〃I happen
to know that Mr。 Milray drew one up for her； I witnessed it。〃
〃No；〃 said Clementina； 〃I didn't see anything of it。 She told me she had
made a will； but she didn't quite like it； and sometimes she thought she
would change it。 She spoke of getting you to do it； I didn't know but
she had。〃
The vice…consul shook his head。 〃No。 And these relations of her
husband's up in Michigan； you don't know where they live； exactly？〃
〃No。 She neva told me； she wouldn't； she didn't like to talk about them；
I don't even know their names。〃
The vice…consul thoughtfully scratched a corner of his chin through his
beard。 〃If there isn't any will； they're the heirs。 I used to be a sort
of wild…cat lawyer； and I know that much law。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Clementina。 〃She left them five thousand dollas apiece。 She
said she wished she had made it ten。〃
〃I guess she's made it a good deal more； if she's made it anything。 Miss
Claxon； don't you understand that if no will turns up； they come in for
all her money。
〃Well； that's what I thought they ought to do；〃 said Clementina。
〃And do you understand that if that's so； you don't come in for anything？
You must excuse me for mentioning it； but she has told everybody that you
were to have it； and if there is no will〃
He stopped and bent an eye of lack…lustre compassion on the girl； who
replied； 〃Oh； yes。 I know that； it's what I always told her to do。 I
didn't want it。〃
〃You didn't want it？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well！〃 The vice…consul stared at her； but he forbore the comment that
her indifference inspired。 He said after a pause； 〃Then what we've got
to do is to advertise for the Michigan relations； and let 'em take any
action they want to。〃
〃That's the only thing we could do； I presume。〃
This gave the vice…consul another pause。 At the end of it he got to his
feet。 〃Is there anything I can do for you； Miss Claxon？〃
She went to her portfolio and produced Mrs。 Lander's letter of credit。
It had been made out for three thousand pounds； in Clementina's name as
well as her own； but she had lived wastefully since she had come abroad；
and little money remained to be taken up。 With the letter Clementina
handed the vice…consul the roll of Italian and Austrian bank…notes which
she had drawn when Mrs。 Lander decided to leave Venice； they were to the
amount of several thousand lire and golden。 She offered them with the
insensibility to the quality of money which so many women have； and which
is always so astonishing to men。 〃What must I do with these？〃 she asked。
〃Why； keep them！ returned the vice…consul on the spur of his surprise。
〃I don't know as I should have any right to；〃 said Clementina。 〃They
were hers。〃
〃Why； but〃 The vice…consul began his protest； but he could not end it
logically； and he did not end it at all。 He insisted with Clementina
that she had a right to some money which Mrs。 Lander had given her during
her life； he took charge of the bank…notes in the interest of the
possible heirs； and gave her his receipt for them。 In the meantime he
felt that he ought to ask her what she expected to do。
〃I think；〃 she said； 〃I will stay in Venice awhile。〃
The vice…consul suppressed any surprise he might have felt at a decision
given with mystifying cheerfulness。 He answered； Well； that was right；
and for the second time he asked her if there was anything he could do
for her。
〃Why； yes；〃 she returned。 〃I should like to stay on in the house here；
if you could speak for me to the padrone。〃
〃I don't see why you shouldn't； if we can make the padrone understand
it's different。〃
〃You mean about the price？〃 The vice…consul nodded。 〃That's what I want
you should speak to him about； Mr。 Bennam； if you would。 Tell him that I
haven't got but a little money now； and he would have to make it very
reasonable。 That is； if you think it would be right for me to stay； afta
the way he tried to treat Mrs。 Lander。〃
The vice…consul gave the point some thought； and decided that the
attempted extortion need not make any difference with Clementina； if she
could get the right terms。 He said he did not believe the padrone was a
bad fellow； but he liked to take advantage of a stranger when he could；
we all did。 When he came to talk with him he found him a man of heart if
not of conscience。 He entered into the case with the prompt intelligence
and vivid sympathy of his race； and he made it easy for Clementina to
stay till she had heard from her friends in America。 For himself and for
his wife； he professed that she could not stay too long； and they
proposed that if it would content the signorina still further they would
employ Maddalena as chambermaid till she wished to return to Florence；
she had offered to remain if the signorina stayed。
〃Then that is settled；〃 said Clementina with a sigh of relief； and she
thanked the vice…consul for his offer to write to the Milrays for her；
and said that she would rather write herself。
She meant to write as soon as she heard from Mr。 Hinkle； which could not
be long now； for then she could be independent of the offers of help
which she dreaded from Miss Milray； even more than from Mrs。 Milray； it
would be harder to refuse them； and she entered upon a passage of her
life which a nature less simple would have found much more trying。 But
she
