The manager had reserved for her one of the best suites, which had just been vacated by a Russian princess.  “I guess you better cable to your folks where you ah’, Clementina,” she said.  “Because if you’re satisfied, I am, and I presume we sha’n’t want to change as long as we stay in Florence.  My, but it’s sightly!” She joined Clementina a moment at the windows looking upon the Arno, and the hills beyond it.  “I guess you’ll spend most of your time settin’ at this winder, and I sha’n’t blame you.”

They had arrived late in the dull, soft winter afternoon.  The landlord led the way himself to their apartment, and asked if they would have fire; a facchino came in and kindled roaring blazes on the hearths; at the same time a servant lighted all the candles on the tables and mantels.  They both gracefully accepted the fees that Mrs. Lander made Clementina give them; the facchino kissed the girl’s hand.  “My!” said Mrs. Lander, “I guess you never had your hand kissed before.”

The hotel developed advantages which, if not those she was used to, were still advantages.  The halls were warmed by a furnace, and she came to like the little logs burning in her rooms.  In the care of her own fire, she went back to the simple time of her life in the country, and chose to kindle it herself when it died out, with the fagots of broom that blazed up so briskly.

In the first days of her stay she made inquiry for the best American doctor in Florence; and she found him so intelligent that she at once put her liver in his charge, with a history of her diseases and symptoms of every kind.  She told him that she was sure that he could have cured Mr. Lander, if he had only had him in time; she exacted a new prescription from him for herself, and made him order some quinine pills for Clementina against the event of her feeling debilitated by the air of Florence.

XX.

In these first days a letter came to Clementina from Mrs. Lander’s banker, enclosing the introduction which Mrs. Milray had promised to her sister-in-law.  It was from Mr. Milray, as before, and it was in Mrs. Milray’s handwriting; but no message from her came with it.  To Clementina it explained itself, but she had to explain it to Mrs. Lander.  She had to tell her of Mrs. Milray’s behavior after the entertainment on the steamer, and Mrs. Lander said that Clementina had done just exactly right; and they both decided, against some impulses of curiosity in Clementina’s heart, that she should not make use of the introduction.

The ‘Hotel des Financieres’ was mainly frequented by rich Americans full of ready money, and by rich Russians of large credit.  Better Americans and worse, went, like the English, to smaller and cheaper hotels; and Clementina’s acquaintance was confined to mothers as shy and ungrammatical as Mrs. Lander herself, and daughters blankly indifferent to her.  Mrs. Lander drove out every day when it did not rain,