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think something of quite another sort might succeed. En-
thusiasm, as I say, had not come at first to Isabel, but it came
to-day and made her feel almost happy. It was astonishing
what happiness she could still find in the idea of procuring
a pleasure for her husband. It was a pity, however, that Ed-
ward Rosier had crossed their path!
At this reflection the light that had suddenly gleamed
upon that path lost something of its brightness. Isabel was
unfortunately as sure that Pansy thought Mr. Rosier the nic-
est of all the young men sure as if she had held an interview
with her on the subject. It was very tiresome she should be
so sure, when she had carefully abstained from informing
herself; almost as tiresome as that poor Mr. Rosier should
have taken it into his own head. He was certainly very infe-
rior to Lord Warburton. It was not the difference in fortune
so much as the difference in the men; the young American
was really so light a weight. He was much more of the type
of the useless fine gentleman than the English nobleman.
It was true that there was no particular reason why Pansy
should marry a statesman; still, if a statesman admired her,
that was his affair, and she would make a perfect little pearl
of a peeress.
It may seem to the reader that Mrs. Osmond had grown
of a sudden strangely cynical, for she ended by saying to
herself that this difficulty could probably be arranged. An
impediment that was embodied in poor Rosier could not
anyhow present itself as a dangerous one; there were always
means of levelling secondary obstacles. Isabel was perfectly
aware that she had not taken the measure of Pansy’s tenac-

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