Page 178 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

arguing the question he had so prematurely opened, could
not help admiring his good-humoured self-possession,
which quite disguised the symptoms of that preoccupation
with her presence it was natural she should suppose him to
feel. He neither looked at her nor spoke to her, and the only
sign of his emotion was that he avoided meeting her eyes.
He had plenty of talk for the others, however, and he ap-
peared to eat his luncheon with discrimination and appetite.
Miss Molyneux, who had a smooth, nun-like forehead and
wore a large silver cross suspended from her neck, was evi-
dently preoccupied with Henrietta Stackpole, upon whom
her eyes constantly rested in a manner suggesting a con-
flict between deep alienation and yearning wonder. Of the
two ladies from Lockleigh she was the one Isabel had liked
best; there was such a world of hereditary quiet in her. Isabel
was sure moreover that her mild forehead and silver cross
referred to some weird Anglican mystery—some delightful
reinstitution perhaps of the quaint office of the canoness.
She wondered what Miss Molyneux would think of her if
she knew Miss Archer had refused her brother; and then
she felt sure that Miss Molyneux would never knowthat
Lord Warburton never told her such things. He was fond
of her and kind to her, but on the whole he told her little.
Such, at least, was Isabel’s theory; when, at table, she was not
occupied in conversation she was usually occupied in form-
ing theories about her neighbours. According to Isabel, if
Miss Molyneux should ever learn what had passed between
Miss Archer and Lord Warburton she would probably be
shocked at such a girl’s failure to rise; or no, rather (this was

178 The Portrait of a Lady