Page 110 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

your uncle likes me.’
‘You’re very much mistaken. I’ve heard him speak very
highly of you.’
‘I’m glad you have talked about me,’ said Lord Warbur-
ton. ‘But, I nevertheless don’t think he’d like me to keep
coming to Gardencourt.’
‘I can’t answer for my uncle’s tastes,’ the girl rejoined,
‘though I ought as far as possible to take them into account.
But for myself I shall be very glad to see you.’
‘Now that’s what I like to hear you say. I’m charmed when
you say that.’
‘You’re easily charmed, my lord,’ said Isabel.
‘No, I’m not easily charmed!’ And then he stopped a mo-
ment. ‘But you’ve charmed me, Miss Archer.’
These words were uttered with an indefinable sound
which startled the girl; it struck her as the prelude to
something grave: she had heard the sound before and she
recognized it. She had no wish, however, that for the mo-
ment such a prelude should have a sequel, and she said as
gaily as possible and as quickly as an appreciable degree of
agitation would allow her: ‘I’m afraid there’s no prospect of
my being able to come here again.’
‘Never?’ said Lord Warburton.
‘I won’t say ‘never’; I should feel very melodramatic.’
‘May I come and see you then some day next week?’
‘Most assuredly. What is there to prevent it?’
‘Nothing tangible. But with you I never feel safe. I’ve a
sort of sense that you’re always summing people up.’
‘You don’t of necessity lose by that.’

110 The Portrait of a Lady