Page 783 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

recognized Madame Catherine, whose acquaintance she
had already made, and begged that she would immediately
let her see Miss Osmond. Madame Catherine looked doubly
discreet, but smiled very blandly and said: ‘It will be good
for her to see you. I’ll take you to her myself’ Then she di-
rected her pleased guarded vision to Madame Merle.
‘Will you let me remain a little?’ this lady asked. ‘It’s so
good to be here.’
‘You may remain always if you like!’ And the good sister
gave a knowing laugh.
She led Isabel out of the room, through several corridors,
and up a long staircase. All these departments were solid
and bare, light and clean; so, thought Isabel, are the great
penal establishments. Madame Catherine gently pushed
open the door of Pansy’s room and ushered in the visitor;
then stood smiling with folded hands while the two others
met and embraced.
‘She’s glad to see you,’ she repeated; ‘it will do her good.’
And she placed the best chair carefully for Isabel. But she
made no movement to seat herself; she seemed ready to re-
tire. ‘How does this dear child look?’ she asked of Isabel,
lingering a moment.
‘She looks pale,’ Isabel answered.
‘That’s the pleasure of seeing you. She’s very happy. Elle
eclaire la maison,’ said the good sister.
Pansy wore, as Madame Merle had said, a little black
dress; it was perhaps this that made her look pale. ‘They’re
very good to me-they think of everything!’ she exclaimed
with all her customary eagerness to accommodate.

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