Page 186 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

made no answer—apparently not having heard her; he was
preoccupied, and with good reason. Miss Molyneux—as if
he had been Royalty—stood like a lady-in-waiting.
‘Well, I never, Miss Molyneux!’ said Henrietta Stackpole.
‘If I wanted to go he’d have to go. If I wanted my brother to
do a thing he’d have to do it.’
‘Oh, Warburton does everything one wants,’ Miss Mo-
lyneux answered with a quick, shy laugh. ‘How very many
pictures you have!’ she went on, turning to Ralph.
‘They look a good many, because they’re all put together,’
said Ralph. ‘But it’s really a bad way.’
‘Oh, I think it’s so nice. I wish we had a gallery at Lock-
leigh. I’m so very fond of pictures,’ Miss Molyneux went on,
persistently, to Ralph, as if she were afraid Miss Stackpole
would address her again. Henrietta appeared at once to fas-
cinate and to frighten her.
‘Ah yes, pictures are very convenient,’ said Ralph, who
appeared to know better what style of reflexion was accept-
able to her.
‘They’re so very pleasant when it rains,’ the young lady
continued. ‘It has rained of late so very often.’
‘I’m sorry you’re going away, Lord Warburton,’ said Hen-
rietta. ‘I wanted to get a great deal more out of you.’
‘I’m not going away,’ Lord Warburton answered.
‘Your sister says you must. In America the gentlemen
obey the ladies.’
‘I’m afraid we have some people to tea,’ said Miss Moly-
neux, looking at her brother.
‘Very good, my dear. We’ll go.’

186 The Portrait of a Lady