154 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. "How can we have discussed such things? M. Merle was then living." " Is he dead now 1 " "So she says." "Don't you believe her? " " Yes, because the statement agrees wiih the probabilities The husband of Madame Merle would be likely to pass away." Isabel gazed at her cousin again. " I don't know what you mean. You mean something that you don't mean. What was M. Merle ? " " The husband of Madame." " You are very odious. Has she any children ? " " Not the least little child fortunately." "Fortunately?" "I mean fortunately for the child; she would be sure to spoil it." Isabel was apparently on the point of assuring her cousin for the third time that he was odious ; but the discussion was inter- rupted by the arrival of the lady who was the topic of it. She came rustling in quickly, apologising for being late, fastening a bracelet, dressed in dark blue satin, which exposed a white bosom that was ineffectually covered by a curious silver necklace. Ralph offered her his arm with the exaggerated alertness of a man who was no longer a lover. Even if this had still been his condition, however, Ealph had other things to think about. The great doctor spent the night at Gardencourt, and returning to London on the morrow, after another consultation with Mr. Touchett' s own medical adviser, concurred in Ralph's desire that he should see the patient again on the day following. On the day following Sir Matthew Hope reappeared at Gardencourt, and on this occasion took a less encouraging view of the old man, who had grown worse in the twenty-four hours. His feebleness was extreme, and to his son, who constantly sat by his bedside, it often seemed that his end was at hand. The local doctor, who was a very sagacious man, and in whom Ealph had secretly more confidence than in his distinguished colleague, was constantly in attendance, and Sir Matthew Hope returned several times to Gardencourt. Mr. Touchett was much of the time unconscious ; he slept a great deal ; he rarely spoke. Isabel had a great desire to be useful to him, and was allowed to watch with him several times when his other attendants (of whom Mrs. Touchett was not the least regular) went to take rest. He never seemed to know her, and ehe always said to herself " Suppose he should die while I am
