"She is a figure of importance here in Florence. She is in truth a very gifted woman--in her way, great, and of wide reputation. And she is clever, except in just some little spots. Geniuses, one has observed, are seldom quite free from such spots. She has kept herself very much to herself now for several years, so that an occasion to see her is grasped eagerly. This affair of hers on Saturday is the first thing of the kind in an age. Her villa at Bellosguardo is most interesting and full of interesting things. And the view from her terrace is worthy of a pilgrimage. You perceive, Mrs. Hawthorne, that I am doing what I can to _faire valoir_ the scrap of entertainment I have to offer." "I think it perfectly lovely of you! Of course I'll go, and delighted to. And see how it fits in--" She kindled to joyful enthusiasm. "We've just bought a lot of her books. We realized we'd got to have some books to make this room look finished off. We bought hers in paper covers and have had them beautifully bound. Just look here." She went to take a specimen from the bookcase, a white parchment volume with gold tooling, a crimson fleur-de-lys painted on the front cover. "Aren't they lovely? An idea! We'll take some of them up to her and ask her to write her name in them. Wouldn't that be flattering?" "Ye ... es." "I've been trying to read some of it over since these came home from the binder's. My! Aren't those people of hers wonderful--where you'd think the ladies never could have a stomache-ache nor the gentlemen a corn!" "I hope Miss Madison will not think I forgot her," he disingenuously said, "when in replying to Mrs. Grangeon's invitation I begged permission to bring you, and that she will do me the honor some day very soon--" "Oh, Estelle won't mind!" The mention of Estelle seemed to change the color of Mrs. Hawthorne's thoughts, casting a shadow over them. "Estelle and I had a spat this morning," she told him. "Oh!" "That's why I was sweeping and why she's gone for a walk by herself." "I'm so sorry!" was all he found to say.