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isn’t always active; it’s often passive; but that takes even more
attention. Then my wife and I do so many things together.
We read, we study, we make music, we walk, we drive-we
talk even, as when we first knew each other. I delight, to this
hour, in my wife’s conversation. If you’re ever bored take my
advice and get married. Your wife indeed may bore you, in
that case; but you’ll never bore yourself. You’ll always have
something to say to yourself-always have a subject of reflec-
tion.’
‘I’m not bored,’ said Goodwood. ‘I’ve plenty to think
about and to say to myself.’
‘More than to say to others!’ Osmond exclaimed with a
light laugh. ‘Where shall you go next? I mean after you’ve
consigned Touchett to his natural caretakers-I believe his
mother’s at last coming back to look after him. That little
lady’s superb; she neglects her duties with a finish-! Perhaps
you’ll spend the summer in England?’
‘I don’t know. I’ve no plans.’
‘Happy man! That’s a little bleak, but it’s very free.’
‘Oh yes, I’m very free.’
‘Free to come back to Rome I hope,’ said Osmond as he
saw a group of new visitors enter the room. ‘Remember that
when you do come we count on you!’
Goodwood had meant to go away early, but the evening
elapsed without his having a chance to speak to Isabel oth-
erwise than as one of several associated interlocutors. There
was something perverse in the inveteracy with which she
avoided him; his unquenchable rancour discovered an in-
tention where there was certainly no appearance of one.

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