THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 369 " I thought it best he should know, so that, so that " And Isabel paused. "So that what]" "So that he should act accordingly." " So that he should back out, do you mean 1 " " No, so that he should advance while there is yet time." "That is not the effect it seems to have had." " You should have patience," said Isabel. " You know Englishmen are shy." " This one is not He was not when he made love to you." She had been afraid Osmond would speak of that ; it was disagreeable to her. "I beg your pardon; he was extremely so," she said simply. He answered nothing for some time ; he took up a book and turned over the pages, while Isabel sat silent, occupying herself with Pansy's tapestry. " You must have a great deal of influence with him," Osmond went on at last. " The moment you really wish it, you can bring him to the point." This was more disagreeable still ; but Isabel felt it to be natural that her husband should say it, and it was after all something very much of the same sort that she had said to herself. " Why should I have influence ? " she asked. " What have I ever done to put him under an obligation to me ? " " You refused to marry him," said Osmond, with his eyes on his book. " I must not presume too much on that," Isabel answered, gently. He threw down the book presently, and got up, standing before the fire with his hands behind him. "Well," he said, " I hbld that it lies in your hands. I shall leave it there. With a little good-will you may manage it. Think that over and remember that I count upon you." He waited a little, to give her time to answer; but she answered nothing, and he presently strolled out of the room. XLIL SHE answered nothing, because his words had put the situa- tion before her, and she was absorbed in looking at it. There was something in them that suddenly opened the door to agitation, so that she was afraid to trust herself to speak. After Osmond had gone, she leaned back in her chair and closed her B B
