A Room with a View

Secrecy and Pension Acquaintances

Miss Bartlett implores Mr. Beebe to maintain absolute secrecy about the plans in motion, warning that even a single careless word to a talkative friend could derail everything. Mr. Beebe, accustomed to the exaggerated secretiveness of nervous older women, brushes off her warnings lightly, and shifts the conversation to the interconnected group of former Bertolini pension guests, noting that eight of them (including the Emersons) have stayed in touch, and proposing they give the Signora a testimonial, a scheme Miss Bartlett does not support.

Hill Walk and Approaching Storm

After their conversation at the pension, Mr. Beebe and Miss Bartlett walk up a hill in strained silence, as she does not favor his testimonial idea for the Signora. At the summit, they pause to watch a dramatic summer storm roll in: grey clouds tear across streaks of white sky, summer weather retreats, wind roars and trees groan over the Surrey landscape. Mr. Beebe spots Lucy practicing Mozart at Windy Corner, and noting the approaching darkness, suggests they hurry onward to the Beehive Tavern.

Arrival at the Beehive Tavern

Mr. Beebe and Miss Bartlett arrive at the Beehive Tavern at around five o’clock. Noting that the open verandah would be too cold for Miss Bartlett and the indoor sanded room would be too dull for the young Minnie, Mr. Beebe proposes splitting their group: they will pass Minnie her food through the window, a plan that incidentally gives him the opportunity to discuss Lucy’s situation with Miss Bartlett privately.

Reopening Lucy’s Greek Plan Discussion

Mr. Beebe tells Miss Bartlett he would like to reopen their earlier discussion about Lucy’s future, making clear he does not want to discuss Lucy’s past, which he believes she handled nobly, but only her forward plans. He pulls out Lucy’s letter to the Miss Alans proposing to join their Greek travels, and says he believes the plan is a bad idea.