Page 187 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

‘I hoped you would resist!’ Henrietta exclaimed. ‘I want-
ed to see what Miss Molyneux would do.’
‘I never do anything,’ said this young lady.
‘I suppose in your position it’s sufficient for you to exist!’
Miss Stackpole returned. ‘I should like very much to see you
at home.’
‘You must come to Lockleigh again,’ said Miss Moly-
neux, very sweetly, to Isabel, ignoring this remark of Isabel’s
friend.
Isabel looked into her quiet eyes a moment, and for that
moment seemed to see in their grey depths the reflexion of
everything she had rejected in rejecting Lord Warburton—
the peace, the kindness, the honour, the possessions, a deep
security and a great exclusion. She kissed Miss Molyneux
and then she said: ‘I’m afraid I can never come again.’
‘Never again?’
‘I’m afraid I’m going away.’
‘Oh, I’m so very sorry,’ said Miss Molyneux. ‘I think
that’s so very wrong of you.’
Lord Warburton watched this little passage; then he
turned away and stared at a picture. Ralph, leaning against
the rail before the picture with his hands in his pockets, had
for the moment been watching him.
‘I should like to see you at home,’ said Henrietta, whom
Lord Warburton found beside him. ‘I should like an hour’s
talk with you; there are a great many questions I wish to
ask you.’
‘I shall be delighted to see you,’ the proprietor of Lock-
leigh answered; ‘but I’m certain not to be able to answer

187