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‘There’s something I want you to know,’ the Countess de-
clared-”because I think you ought to know it. Perhaps you
do; perhaps you’ve guessed it. But if you have, all I can say
is that I understand still less why you shouldn’t do as you
like.’
‘What do you wish me to know?’ Isabel felt a foreboding
that made her heart beat faster. The Countess was about to
justify herself, and this alone was portentous.
But she was nevertheless disposed to play a little with
her subject. ‘In your place I should have guessed it ages ago.
Have you never really suspected?’
‘I’ve guessed nothing. What should I have suspected? I
don’t know what you mean.
‘That’s because you’ve such a beastly pure mind. I never
saw a woman with such a pure mind!’ cried the Countess.
Isabel slowly got up. ‘You’re going to tell me something
horrible.’
‘You can call it by whatever name you will!’ And the
Countess rose also, while her gathered perversity grew vivid
and dreadful. She stood a moment in a sort of glare of in-
tention and, as seemed to Isabel even then, of ugliness; after
which she said: ‘My first sister-in-law had no children.’
Isabel stared back at her; the announcement was an anti-
climax. ‘Your first sister-in-law?’
‘I suppose you know at least, if one may mention it, that
Osmond has been married before! I’ve never spoken to you
of his wife; I thought it mightn’t be decent or respectful. But
others, less particular, must have done so. The poor little
woman lived hardly three years and died childless. It wasn’t

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