Page 665 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

‘Your having so little is a reason for looking for more.’
With which Isabel was grateful for the dimness of the room;
she felt as if her face were hideously insincere. It was what
she was doing for Osmond; it was what one had to do for
Osmond! Pansy’s solemn eyes, fixed on her own, almost
embarrassed her; she was ashamed to think she had made
so light of the girl’s preference.
‘What should you like me to do?’ her companion softly
demanded.
The question was a terrible one, and Isabel took refuge
in timorous vagueness. ‘To remember all the pleasure it’s in
your power to give your father.’
‘To marry some one else, you mean-if he should ask
me?’
For a moment Isabel’s answer caused itself to be waited
for; then she heard herself utter it in the stillness that Pan-
sy’s attention seemed to make.
‘Yes-to marry some one else.’
The child’s eyes grew more penetrating; Isabel believed
she was doubting her sincerity, and the impression took
force from her slowly getting up from her cushion. She
stood there a moment with her small hands unclasped and
then quavered out: ‘Well, I hope no one will ask me!’
‘There has been a question of that. Some one else would
have been ready to ask you.’
don’t think he can have been ready,’ said Pansy.
‘It would appear so-if he had been sure he’d succeed.’
‘If he had been sure? Then he wasn’t ready!’
Isabel thought this rather sharp; she also got up and stood

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