THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 513 " I suppose not ; but I hope it's for some weeks. You came to England sooner than a than you thought ] " " Yes, I came very suddenly." Mrs. Touchett turned away, as if she were looking at the condition of the grounds, which indeed was not what it should be ; while Lord Warburton hesitated a little.- Isabel fancied he had been on the point of asking about her husband rather con- fusedly and then had checked himself. He continued immiti- gably grave, either because he thought it becoming in a place over which death had just passed, or for more personal reasons. If he Was conscious of personal reasons, it was very fortunate that he had the cover of the former motive ; he could make the most of that. Isabel thought of all this. It was not that his face was sad, for that was another matter ; but it was strangely inexpressive. " My sisters would have been so glad to come if they had known you were still here if they had thought you would see them," Lord Warburton went on. " Do kindly let them see you before you leave England." " It would give me great pleasure ; I have such a friendly recollection of them." " I don't know whether you would come to Lockleigh for a day or two 1 You know there is always that old promise." And his lordship blushed a little as he made this suggestion, which gave his face a somewhat more familiar air. " Perhaps I'm not right in saying that just now ; of course you are not thinking of visiting. But I meant what would hardly be a visit. My sisters are to be at Lockleigh at Whitsuntide for three days ; and if you could come then as you say you are not to be very long in England I would see that there should be literally no one else." Isabel wondered whether not even the young lady he was to marry would be there with her mamma ; but she did not express this idea. " Thank you extremely," she contented herself with saying ; " I'm afraid I hardly know about Whit- suntide." " But I have your promise haven't 1 1 for some other time." Tki-e was an interrogation in this ; but Isabel let it pass. She looked at her interlocutor a moment, and the result of her observation was that as had happened before she felt sorry for him. "Take care you don't miss your train," she said. And then she added, " I wish you every happiness." L L,
