CULCH. (_alone, disenchanted_). I could _not_ have believed any amount of bites could have made such a terrible difference in her. She looks positively _plain_! I do trust they're not _permanent_, or really----! [_He gazes meditatively down on the lapping water._ CHAPTER XXI. +Wearing Rue with a Difference.+ SCENE--_The Steps of the Hotel Dandolo, about_ 11 A.M. PODBURY _is looking expectantly down the Grand Canal_, CULCHARD _is leaning upon the Balustrade_. PODB. Yes, met Bob just now. They've gone to the Europa, but we've arranged to take a gondola together, and go about. They're to pick me up here. Ah, that looks rather like them. (_A gondola approaches, with_ MISS PRENDERGAST _and_ BOB; PODBURY _goes down the steps to meet them_.) How are you, Miss Prendergast? Here I _am_, you see. MISS P. (_ignoring_ C.'S _salute_). How do you do, Mr. Podbury? Surely you don't propose to go out in a gondola in _that_ hat! PODB. (_taking off a brown "pot-hat," and inspecting it_). It--it's quite _decent_. It was new when I came away! BOB (_who is surly this morning_). Hang it all, Patia! Do you want him to come out in a chimney-pot? Jump in, old fellow, never mind your tile? PODB. (_apologetically_). I had a straw once--but I sat on it. I'm awfully sorry, Miss Prendergast. Look here, shall I go and see if I can buy one? MISS P. Not now--it doesn't signify, for once. But a round hat and a gondola are really _too_ incongruous! PODB. Are they? A lot of the Venetians seem to wear 'em. (_He steps in._) Now what are we going to do--just potter about? MISS P. One hardly comes to Venice to _potter_! I thought we'd go and study the Carpaccios at the Church of the Schiavoni first--they won't take us more than an hour or so; then cross to San Giorgio Maggiore, and see the Tintorets, come back and get a general idea of the exterior of St. Mark's, and spend the afternoon at the Accademia. PODB. (_with a slight absence of heartiness_). Capital! And--er--lunch at the Academy, I suppose? MISS P. There does not happen to be a restaurant there--we shall see what time we have. I must say _I_ regard every minute of daylight spent on food here as a sinful waste. BOB. Now just look here, Patia, if you _are_ bossing this show, you needn't go cutting us off our grub! What do _you_ say, Jem? PODB. (_desperately anxious to please_). Oh, I don't know that I care about lunch myself--much. [_Their voices die away on the water._ CULCH. (_musing_). She might have _bowed_ to me!... _She_ has escaped the mosquitoes.... Ah, well, I doubt if she'll find those two particularly sympathetic companions! Now I _should_ enjoy a day spent in that way. Why shouldn't I, as it is? I dare say Maud will---- [_Turns and sees_ MR. TROTTER.