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you first.’
The old man expressed no surprise, but thanked her for
the confidence she showed him.
‘Do you mind telling me whether you accepted him?’ he
then enquired.
‘I’ve not answered him definitely yet; I’ve taken a little
time to think of it, because that seems more respectful. But
I shall not accept him.’
Mr. Touchett made no comment upon this; he had the
air of thinking that, whatever interest he might take in the
matter from the point of view of sociability, he had no ac-
tive voice in it. ‘Well, I told you you’d be a success over here.
Americans are highly appreciated.’
‘Very highly indeed,’ said Isabel. ‘But at the cost of seem-
ing both tasteless and ungrateful, I don’t think I can marry
Lord Warburton.’
‘Well,’ her uncle went on, ‘of course an old man can’t
judge for a young lady. I’m glad you didn’t ask me before
you made up your mind. I suppose I ought to tell you,’ he
added slowly, but as it were not of much consequence, ‘that
I’ve known all about it these three days.’
‘About Lord Warburton’s state of mind?’
‘About his intentions, as they say here. He wrote me a
very pleasant letter, telling me all about them. Should you
like to see his letter?’ the old man obligingly asked.
‘Thank you; I don’t think I care about that. But I’m glad
he wrote to you; it was right that he should, and he would be
certain to do what was right.’
‘Ah well, I guess you do like him!’ Mr. Touchett declared.

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