THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 359 mysterious connection he may have discovered between me and Pansy ; but he came to me from the first, as if I held his fortune in my hand. Now he keeps coming back, to spur me up, to know what hope there is, to pour out his feelings." " He is very much in love," said Isabel. " Very much for him."
- ' Very much for Pansy, you might say as well."
Madame Merle dropped her eyes a moment. "Don't you think she's attractive 1 " u She is the dearest little person possible ; but she is very limited." " She ought to be all the easier for Mr. Rosier to love. Mr. Rosier is not unlimited." " No," said Isabel, " he has about the extent of one's pocket- handkerchief the small ones, with lace." Her humour had lately turned a good deal to sarcasm, but in a moment she was ashamed of exercising it on so innocent an object as Pansy's suitor, " He is very kind, very honest," she presently added ; "and he is not such a fool as he seems." " He assures me that she delights in him," said Madame Merle. " I don't know ; I have not asked her." " You have never sounded her a little 1 " " It's not my place ; it's her father's." " Ah, you are too literal ! " said Madame Merle. " I must judge for myself." Madame Merle gave her smile again. " It isn't easy to help you." " To help me 1 " said Isabel, very seriously. " What do you mean 1 " " It's easy to displease you. Don't you see how wise I am to be careful ] I notify you, at any rate, as I notified Osmond, that ,1 wash my hands of the love-affairs of Miss Pansy and. Mr. Edward Rosier. Je riy peux rien, moi I I can't talk to Pansy about him. Especially," added Madame Merle, " as I don't think him a paragon of husbands." Isabel reflected a little ; after which, with a smile " You don't wash your hands, then ! " she said. Then she added, in another tone " You can't you are too much interested." Madame Merle slowly rose ; she had given Isabel a look as rapid as the intimation that had gleamed before our heroine a few moments before. Only, this time Isabel saw nothing. " Ask him the next time, and you will see." " I can't ask him ; he has ceased to come to the house. Gilbert has let him know that he is not welcome."
