"Well, you have made a great difference for me," said Miss Tita.
I looked at Jeffrey Aspern's face in the little picture, partly in order not to look at that of my interlocutress, which had begun to trouble me, even to frighten me a little--it was so self-conscious, so unnatural.I made no answer to this last declaration; I only privately consulted Jeffrey Aspern's delightful eyes with my own (they were so young and brilliant, and yet so wise, so full of vision); I asked him what on earth was the matter with Miss Tita.He seemed to smile at me with friendly mockery, as if he were amused at my case.
I had got into a pickle for him--as if he needed it!
He was unsatisfactory, for the only moment since I had known him.Nevertheless, now that I held the little picture in my hand I felt that it would be a precious possession.
"Is this a bribe to make me give up the papers?"I demanded in a moment, perversely."Much as I value it, if I were to be obliged to choose, the papers are what Ishould prefer.Ah, but ever so much!"
"How can you choose--how can you choose?" Miss Tita asked, slowly, lamentably.
"I see! Of course there is nothing to be said, if you regard the interdiction that rests upon you as quite insurmountable.
In this case it must seem to you that to part with them would be an impiety of the worst kind, a simple sacrilege!"Miss Tita shook her head, full of her dolefulness."You would understand if you had known her.I'm afraid," she quavered suddenly--"I'm afraid!
She was terrible when she was angry."
"Yes, I saw something of that, that night.She was terrible.
Then I saw her eyes.Lord, they were fine!""I see them--they stare at me in the dark!" said Miss Tita.
"You are nervous, with all you have been through.""Oh, yes, very--very!"
"You mustn't mind; that will pass away," I said, kindly.
Then I added, resignedly, for it really seemed to me that I must accept the situation, "Well, so it is, and it can't be helped.
I must renounce." Miss Tita, at this, looking at me, gave a low, soft moan, and I went on: "I only wish to heaven she had destroyed them; then there would be nothing more to say.
And I can't understand why, with her ideas, she didn't.""Oh, she lived on them!" said Miss Tita.
"You can imagine whether that makes me want less to see them,"I answered, smiling."But don't let me stand here as if Ihad it in my soul to tempt you to do anything base.
Naturally you will understand if I give up my rooms.
I leave Venice immediately." And I took up my hat, which Ihad placed on a chair.We were still there rather awkwardly, on our feet, in the middle of the sala.She had left the door of the apartments open behind her but she had not led me that way.
A kind of spasm came into her face as she saw me take my hat.
"Immediately--do you mean today?" The tone of the words was tragical--they were a cry of desolation.
"Oh, no; not so long as I can be of the least service to you.""Well, just a day or two more--just two or three days," she panted.
Then controlling herself, she added in another manner, "She wanted to say something to me--the last day--something very particular, but she couldn't.""Something very particular?"
"Something more about the papers."
"And did you guess--have you any idea?"
"No, I have thought--but I don't know.I have thought all kinds of things.""And for instance?"
"Well, that if you were a relation it would be different.""If I were a relation?"
"If you were not a stranger.Then it would be the same for you as for me.
Anything that is mine--would be yours, and you could do what you like.
I couldn't prevent you--and you would have no responsibility."She brought out this droll explanation with a little nervous rush, as if she were speaking words she had got by heart.They gave me an impression of subtlety and at first I failed to follow.
But after a moment her face helped me to see further, and then a light came into my mind.It was embarrassing, and I bent my head over Jeffrey Aspern's portrait.
What an odd expression was in his face! "Get out of it as you can, my dear fellow!" I put the picture into the pocket of my coat and said to Miss Tita, "Yes, I'll sell it for you.
I shan't get a thousand pounds by any means, but I shall get something good."She looked at me with tears in her eyes, but she seemed to try to smile as she remarked, "We can divide the money.""No, no, it shall be all yours." Then I went on, "I think I know what your poor aunt wanted to say.She wanted to give directions that her papers should be buried with her."Miss Tita appeared to consider this suggestion for a moment;after which she declared, with striking decision, "Oh no, she wouldn't have thought that safe!""It seems to me nothing could be safer."
"She had an idea that when people want to publish they are capable--"And she paused, blushing.
"Of violating a tomb? Mercy on us, what must she have thought of me!""She was not just, she was not generous!" Miss Tita cried with sudden passion.
The light that had come into my mind a moment before increased.
"Ah, don't say that, for we ARE a dreadful race."Then I pursued, "If she left a will, that may give you some idea.""I have found nothing of the sort--she destroyed it.
She was very fond of me," Miss Tita added incongruously.
"She wanted me to be happy.And if any person should be kind to me--she wanted to speak of that."
I was almost awestricken at the astuteness with which the good lady found herself inspired, transparent astuteness as it was and sewn, as the phrase is, with white thread.
"Depend upon it she didn't want to make any provision that would be agreeable to me.""No, not to you but to me.She knew I should like it if you could carry out your idea.Not because she cared for you but because she did think of me," Miss Tita went on with her unexpected, persuasive volubility."You could see them--you could use them."She stopped, seeing that I perceived the sense of that conditional--stopped long enough for me to give some sign which I did not give.
