Page 226 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

long enough for her companion to reply. He was apparently
on the point of doing so when she went on: ‘Let me say this
to you, Mr. Goodwood. You’re so kind as to speak of being
afraid of my marrying. If you should hear a rumour that I’m
on the point of doing so—girls are liable to have such things
said about them—remember what I have told you about my
love of liberty and venture to doubt it.’
There was something passionately positive in the tone
in which she gave him this advice, and he saw a shining
candour in her eyes that helped him to believe her. On the
whole he felt reassured, and you might have perceived it
by the manner in which he said, quite eagerly: ‘You want
simply to travel for two years? I’m quite willing to wait two
years, and you may do what you like in the interval. If that’s
all you want, pray say so. I don’t want you to be conven-
tional; do I strike you as conventional myself? Do you want
to improve your mind? Your mind’s quite good enough for
me; but if it interests you to wander about a while and see
different countries I shall be delighted to help you in any
way in my power.’
‘You’re very generous; that’s nothing new to me. The best
way to help me will be to put as many hundred miles of sea
between us as possible.’
‘One would think you were going to commit some atroc-
ity!’ said Caspar Goodwood.
‘Perhaps I am. I wish to be free even to do that if the
fancy takes me.’
‘Well then,’ he said slowly, ‘I’ll go home.’ And he put out
his hand, trying to look contented and confident.

226 The Portrait of a Lady