Page 734 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

of gain, and Isabel asked herself where she had found her
profit. It took her naturally a long time to discover, and even
then her discovery was imperfect. It came back to her that
Madame Merle, though she had seemed to like her from
their first meeting at Gardencourt, had been doubly affec-
tionate after Mr. Touchett’s death and after learning that her
young friend had been subject to the good old man’s charity.
She had found her profit not in the gross device of borrow-
ing money, but in the more refined idea of introducing one
of her intimates to the young woman’s fresh and ingenuous
fortune. She had naturally chosen her closest intimate, and
it was already vivid enough to Isabel that Gilbert occupied
this position. She found herself confronted in this manner
with the conviction that the man in the world whom she
had supposed to be the least sordid had married her, like
a vulgar adventurer, for her money. Strange to say, it had
never before occurred to her; if she had thought a good deal
of harm of Osmond she had not done him this particular
injury. This was the worst she could think of, and she had
been saying to herself that the worst was still to come. A
man might marry a woman for her money perfectly well;
the thing was often done. But at least he should let her know.
She wondered whether, since he had wanted her money, her
money would now satisfy him. Would he take her money
and let her go? Ah, if Mr. Touchett’s great charity would but
help her today it would be blessed indeed! It was not slow to
occur to her that if Madame Merle had wished to do Gilbert
a service his recognition to her of the boon must have lost
its warmth. What must be his feelings to-day in regard to

734 The Portrait of a Lady