“I have this morning received a letter from home,” began Giovanna, “that is to say, from Catanzaro,” she added by way of correcting herself, “which informs me that my grandmother (my father’s mother), who is over ninety years of age, is dangerously ill and has expressed a strong desire to see me. Under the circumstances, Sir Gilbert, you will probably agree with me that it is my duty to hasten to her side. It will doubtless be the last opportunity I shall have of seeing her, but I did not care to set out on so long a journey without first taking your opinion in the matter.”
“That was very thoughtful of you, my dear madam, very thoughtful indeed,” replied the Baronet with a gratified air. “It is clearly your duty to lose no time in carrying out your venerable relative’s wish. Is it your desire that your son should accompany you?”
“Oh dear, no, Sir Gilbert,” replied Mrs. Clare hastily. “In cases where there is sickness in a house I have always found that young men are only in the way. They are not merely uncomfortable themselves but a source of discomfort to others.”
“Very possibly you are right, madam. But my idea in mentioning your son was that he would be in a position to act as your travelling escort.”
“But I am quite used to travelling alone, I assure you, Sir Gilbert, and am not in the least timid. For instance, when I returned from America I was quite alone.”
“Possibly so, madam, possibly so,” returned the Baronet stiffly. “That is a matter which pertains to the past and with which I have nothing to do. But it seemed to me that, in the position you now occupy as my daughter-in-law, you ought not to——”
“Pardon me, Sir Gilbert,” interposed Giovanna in her smoothest tones, the blunder of which she had been guilty dawning on her with a rush, “my remark had reference to an escort of the male sex only. It was far from my intention to travel alone. As a matter of course my maid will accompany me.”
The Baronet’s brow cleared in some measure. “Um—um. I had not thought about your maid. Of course—of course. But what, now, if Mrs. Tew were also to keep you company? In such a case expense need be no consideration.”
“It is very kind of you to say so, sir. My first thought was to ask Mrs. Tew to share my journey, but then I called to mind that she is no longer so young as she has been, and that she is far from strong; and as it is my intention to get through to Catanzaro without stopping anywhere longer than may be necessitated by the change from one train or vehicle to another, I would not willingly run the risk of her breaking down by the way.”
“Probably you are right, madam; the affair had not struck me in that light. As you say, at Mrs. Tew’s time of life such a long and hurried journey might overtask her strength.”