Page 638 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

manner was almost conscientiously familiar. It was as im-
possible to imagine her ever vaguely sighing as to imagine
a letter posted without its address. The Countess could not
but feel that the correspondent of the Interviewer was much
more in the movement than the American Corinne. She ex-
plained that she had called on the Countess because she was
the only person she knew in Florence, and that when she
visited a foreign city she liked to see something more than
superficial travellers. She knew Mrs. Touchett, but Mrs.
Touchett was in America, and even if she had been in Flor-
ence Henrietta would not have put herself out for her, since
Mrs. Touchett was not one of her admirations.
‘Do you mean by that that I am?’ the Countess graciously
asked.
‘Well, I like you better than I do her,’ said Miss Stackpole.
‘I seem to remember that when I saw you before you were
very interesting. I don’t know whether it was an accident or
whether it’s your usual style. At any rate I was a good deal
struck with what you said. I made use of it afterwards in
print.’
‘Dear me!’ cried the Countess, staring and half alarmed;
‘I had no idea I ever said anything remarkable! I wish I had
known it at the time.’
‘It was about the position of woman in this city,’ Miss
Stackpole remarked. ‘You threw a good deal of light upon
it.’
‘The position of woman’s very uncomfortable. Is that
what you mean? And you wrote it down and published it?’
the Countess went on. ‘Ah, do let me see it!’

638 The Portrait of a Lady