“Simply, sir, that a gentleman so worldly-wise as yourself must always be supposed to calculate eventualities, and not incur, willingly at least, those he has no mind for. To be plain, sir, I 'm at a loss to understand how one not fond of peril should hazard the chance of being thrown out of a window,--don't start, I 'm only a woman, and cannot do it, nor, though I have rung for the servant, am I going to order _him_. For this time it shall be the door.” And, rising proudly, she walked toward the window; but ere she reached it, Spicer was gone. “What's become of Spicer, Lizzy?” said Beecher, indolently, as his eyes traversed the room in search of him. “He has taken his leave,” said she, in a voice as careless. “He's tiresome, I think,” yawned he; “at least, I find him so.” She made no reply, but sat down to compose her thoughts, somewhat ruffled by the late scene. “Ain't it time to order the carriage? I told Georgy we'd come early,” added he, after a pause. “I almost think I'll not go to-night,” said she, in a low voice. “Not go! You don't mean that when my sister-in-law sends you a message to come and see her that you 'll refuse!” cried he, in a mixture of anger and astonishment. “I'm afraid I could be guilty of so great an enormity,” said she, smiling superciliously. “It's exactly the word for it, whatever you may think,” said he, doggedly. “All I can say is, that you don't know Georgina, or you'd never have dreamt of it.” “In that case it is better I _should_ know her; so I'll get my bonnet and shawl at once.” She was back in the room in a moment, and they set out for the Palazzo Gondi. What would not Beecher have given, as they drove along, for courage to counsel and advise her,--to admonish as to this, and caution as to that? And yet he did not dare to utter a word, and she was as silent. It would not be very easy to say exactly what sort of person Lady Georgina expected in her sister-in-law; indeed, she had pictured her in so many shapes to herself that there was not an incongruity omitted in the composition, and she fancied her bold, daring, timid, awkward, impertinent, and shy alternately, and, in this conflict of anticipation, it was that Lizzy entered. So utterly overcome was Lady Georgina by astonishment, that she actually advanced to meet her in some confusion, and then, taking her hand, led her to a seat on the sofa beside her. [Illustration: 372]