to make is, however, that at a certain moment the obstruction, whatever it was, always levelled itself, and left them more closely face to face than either of them ever was with any one else. This was what had happened now. They stood there, knowing each other well, and each of them on the whole willing to accept the satisfaction of knowing, as a compensation for the inconvenience—whatever it might be—of being known.
"I wish very much you were not so heartless," said Madame Merle, quietly. "It has always been against you, and it will be against you now."
"I am not so heartless as you think. Every now and then something touches me—as for instance your saying just now that your ambitions are for me. I don't understand it; I don't see how or why they should be. But it touches me, all the same."
"You will probably understand it even less as time goes on. There are some things you will never understand. There is no particular need that you should."
"You, after all, are the most remarkable woman," said Osmond. "You have more in you than almost any one. I don't see why you think Mrs. Touchett's niece should matter very much to me, when—when———" and he paused a moment.
"When I myself have mattered so little?"
"That of course is not what I meant to say. When I have known and appreciated such a woman as you."
"Isabel Archer is better than I," said Madame Merle.
Her companion gave a laugh. "How little you must think of her to say that!"
"Do you suppose I am capable of jealousy? Please answer me that."
"With regard to me? No; on the whole I don't."
