THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 177 " I am glad you have done nothing yet that you have it still to do. It is a very good thing for a girl to have refused a few good offers so long, of course, as they are not the best she is likely to have. Excuse me if ray tone seems horribly worldly; one must take that view sometimes. Only don't keep on refus- ing for the sake of refusing. It's a pleasant exercise of power ; but accepting is after all an exercise of power as well. There is always the danger of refusing once too often. It was not the one I fell into I didn't refuse often enough. You are an exquisite creature, and I should like to see you married to a prime minister. But speaking strictly, you know you are not what is technically called a parti. You are extremely good- looking, and extremely clever ; in yourself you are quite excep- tional. You appear to have the vaguest ideas about your earthly possessions ; but from what I can make out, you are not embarrassed with an income. I wish you had a little money." " I wish I had ! " said Isabel, simply, apparently forgetting for the moment that her poverty had been a venial fault for two gallant gentlemen. In spite of Sir Matthew Hope's benevolent recommendation, Madame Merle did not remain to the end, as the issue of poor Mr. Touchett's malady had now come frankly to be designated. She was under pledges to other people which had at last to be redeemed, and she left Gardencourt with the understanding that she should in any event see Mrs. Touchett there again, or in town, before quitting England. Her parting with Isabel was even more like the beginning of a friendship than their meeting had been. " 1 am going to six places in succession," she said, " but I shall see no one I like so well as you. They will all be old friends, however ; one doesn't make new friends at my age. I have made a great exception for you. You must remember that, and you must think well of me. You must reward me by believing in me." By way of answer, Isabel kissed her, and though some women kiss with facility, there are kisses and kisses, and this embrace was satisfactory to Madame Merle. Isabel, after this, was much alone ; she saw her aunt and cousin only at meals, and discovered that of the hours that Mrs. Touchett was invisible, only a minor portion was now devoted to nursing her husband. She spent the rest in her own apart- ments, to which access was not allowed even to her niece, in mysterious and inscrutable exercises. At table she was grave and silent ; but her solemnity was not an attitude Isabel could K
