Page 594 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

ing sometimes an almost unaccountable indifference to
small ones. Isabel perhaps took a small opportunity because
she would not have availed herself of a great one.
Osmond at present acquitted himself very honourably. ‘I
should like it extremely; it would be a great marriage. And
then Lord Warburton has another advantage: he’s an old
friend of yours. It would be pleasant for him to come into
the family. It’s very odd Pansy’s admirers should all be your
old friends.’
‘It’s natural that they should come to see me. In coming
to see me they see Pansy. Seeing her it’s natural they should
fall in love with her.’
‘So I think. But you’re not bound to do so.’
‘If she should marry Lord Warburton I should be very
glad,’ Isabel went on frankly. ‘He’s an excellent man. You
say, however, that she has only to sit perfectly still. Perhaps
she won’t sit perfectly still. If she loses Mr. Rosier she may
jump up!’
Osmond appeared to give no heed to this; he sat gazing
at the fire.
‘Pansy would like to be a great lady,’ he remarked in a
moment with a certain tenderness of tone. ‘She wishes
above all to please,’ he added.
‘To please Mr. Rosier, perhaps.’
‘No, to please me.’
‘Me too a little, I think,’ said Isabel.
‘Yes, she has a great opinion of you. But she’ll do what I
like.’
‘If you’re sure of that, it’s very well,’ she went on.

594 The Portrait of a Lady