60 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. " I suppose you don't mean in health 1 " " No, as to that, he's detestably robust. What I mean is that he is a man with a great position, who is playing all sorts of tricks with it. He doesn't take himself seriously." " Does he regard himself as a joke ? " " Much worse ; he regards himself as an imposition as an abuse." " Well, perhaps he is," said Isabel. "Perhaps he is though on the whole I don't think so. But in that case, what is more pitiable than a sentient, self- conscious abuse, planted by other hands, deeply rooted, but aching with a sense of its injustice? For me, I could take the poor fellow very seriously ; he occupies a position that appeals to my imagination. Great responsibilities, great opportunities, great consideration, great wealth, great power, a natural share in the public affairs of a great country. But he is all in a muddle about himself, his position, his power, and everything else. He is the victim of a critical age ; he has ceased to believe in him- self, and he doesn't know what to believe in. When I attempt to tell him (because if I were he, I know very well what I should believe in), he calls me an old-fashioned and narrow- minded person. I believe he seriously thinks me an awful Philistine ; he says I don't understand my time. I understand it certainly better than he, who can neither abolish himself as a nuisance nor maintain himself as an institution." " He doesn't look very wretched," Isabel observed. " Possibly not ; though, being a man of imagination, I think he often has uncomfortable hours. But what is it to say of a man of bis opportunities that he is not miserable 1 Besides, I believe he is." " I don't," said Isabel. " Well/' her cousin rejoined, " if he is not, he ought to be!" In the afternoon she spent an hour with her uncle on the lawn, where the old man sat, as usual, with his shawl over his legs and his large cup of diluted tea in his hands. In the course of conversation he asked her what she thought of their late visitor. " I think he is charming," Isabel answered. "He's a fine fellow," said Mr. Touchett, "but I don't recommend you to fall in love with him." " I shall not do it then ; I shall never fall in love but on your recommendation. Moreover," Isabel added, "my couoin gives me a rather sad account of Lord Warburton."
