A Room with a View

Evening Conversation and Miss Bartlett’s Manipulation

Once back in Florence, Lucy is shocked to find the others have already recovered their good humour: Mr. Emerson is calmer about his son, Mr. Beebe is cheerful again, and Mr. Eager is already snubbing Miss Lavish. Lucy is certain only Charlotte, who conceals great insight and affection, truly understands her. She spends the evening eager to confess all her confused sensations to her cousin, hoping to finally make sense of her emotions and avoid future unexplained turmoil. When asked to play piano, Lucy refuses, feeling music is a childish pursuit, and sits close to Miss Bartlett while she listens to a long story about lost luggage, growing increasingly hysterical at the delay. Finally, late in the evening, Miss Bartlett finishes her story and invites Lucy to her room to brush her hair before bed.

Lucy’s Turmoil and Departure for Rome

In her room, Miss Bartlett asks Lucy what they should do about the incident with George, catching Lucy off guard: she had planned only to confess her emotions to gain understanding, not to take concrete action. Miss Bartlett insists Lucy must silence George, warning her that unrefined men like him will brag about their exploits to others, and citing George’s earlier lunch argument that liking one person is an extra reason to like another as evidence of his poor character. Lucy initially suggests she will speak to George herself to settle the matter, but Miss Bartlett reacts with alarm, insisting Lucy is too young and inexperienced to handle such a man alone, and warning that without a male protector, she could be insulted with no one to defend her. After appealing for a “real man” to intervene, Miss Bartlett abruptly announces they will catch the morning train to Rome, brushing aside Lucy’s concerns about upsetting their hostess Signora Bertolini and the added cost of staying at the Vyses’ hotel. As they pack by candlelight, Lucy is overwhelmed with a sudden need for human affection and embraces Miss Bartlett, who responds but secretly knows Lucy does not love her, only needs her to offer love. Miss Bartlett then launches into a self-pitying monologue, painting herself as a failure who has neglected Lucy and will be disowned by Lucy’s mother, until Lucy, desperate to avoid conflict, promises she will never tell her mother about the incident, giving Miss Bartlett the leverage she wanted. Miss Bartlett ends the conversation abruptly, leaving Lucy shaken as she realizes Miss Bartlett has manipulated her sincerity and need for sympathy to control the situation, and vowing never to expose herself so recklessly again. Lucy hears Miss Bartlett call Mr. Emerson into the drawing-room, and though she considers slipping out to tell George their strange relationship is over, she hesitates. After Miss Bartlett dismisses Mr. Emerson, Lucy cries out that she wants to stop being muddled by the situation and grow up quickly, and Miss Bartlett tells her to go to bed. The next morning, the pair depart for Rome.