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I don’t understand about her. Is she a Lady?’
‘She’s a capital good girl.’
‘I don’t like the way you say that—as if you wanted to
change the subject. Is her position inferior to yours?’
‘We neither of us have any position to speak of; but she’s
better off than I, because she has none of the bother.’
‘Yes, she doesn’t look as if she had much bother. I wish
I had as little bother as that. You do produce quiet people
over here, whatever else you may do.’
‘Ah, you see one takes life easily, on the whole,’ said Lord
Warburton. ‘And then you know we’re very dull. Ah, we can
be dull when we try!’
‘I should advise you to try something else. I shouldn’t
know what to talk to your sister about; she looks so differ-
ent. Is that silver cross a badge?’
‘A badge?’
‘A sign of rank.’
Lord Warburton’s glance had wandered a good deal, but
at this it met the gaze of his neighbour. ‘Oh yes,’ he answered
in a moment; ‘the women go in for those things. The silver
cross is worn by the eldest daughters of Viscounts.’ Which
was his harmless revenge for having occasionally had his
credulity too easily engaged in America. After luncheon
he proposed to Isabel to come into the gallery and look at
the pictures; and though she knew he had seen the pictures
twenty times she complied without criticizing this pretext.
Her conscience now was very easy; ever since she sent him
her letter she had felt particularly light of spirit. He walked
slowly to the end of the gallery, staring at its contents and

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