Page 676 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

the air of indifference, which he was now able to wear, had
the added beauty of consistency. It was something to be able
to look as if the leave-taker’s movements had no relation to
his own mind. The latter did well, certainly; but Osmond’s
performance was in its very nature more finished. Lord
Warburton’s position was after all an easy one; there was no
reason in the world why he shouldn’t leave Rome. He had
had beneficent inclinations, but they had stopped short of
fruition; he had never committed himself, and his honour
was safe. Osmond appeared to take but a moderate interest
in the proposal that they should go and stay with him and
in his allusion to the success Pansy might extract from their
visit. He murmured a recognition, but left Isabel to say that
it was a matter requiring grave consideration. Isabel, even
while she made this remark, could see the great vista which
had suddenly opened out in her husband’s mind, with Pan-
sy’s little figure marching up the middle of it.
Lord Warburton had asked leave to bid good-bye to Pan-
sy, but neither Isabel nor Osmond had made any motion to
send for her. He had the air of giving out that his visit must
be short; he sat on a small chair, as if it were only for a mo-
ment, keeping his hat in his hand. But he stayed and stayed;
Isabel wondered what he was waiting for. She believed it was
not to see Pansy; she had an impression that on the whole
he would rather not see Pansy. It was of course to see herself
alone-he had something to say to her. Isabel had no great
wish to hear it, for she was afraid it would be an explana-
tion, and she could perfectly dispense with explanations.
Osmond, however, presently got up, like a man of good taste

676 The Portrait of a Lady