Page 352 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

‘That’s what I try to do,’ said Isabel; ‘but when you do that
people call you conceited.’
‘You’re not to mind them—that’s precisely my argument;
not to mind what they say about yourself any more than
what they say about your friend or your enemy.’
Isabel considered. ‘I think you’re right; but there are some
things I can’t help minding: for instance when my friend’s
attacked or when I myself am praised.’
‘Of course you’re always at liberty to judge the critic.
Judge people as critics, however,’ Ralph added, ‘and you’ll
condemn them all!’
‘I shall see Mr. Osmond for myself,’ said Isabel. ‘I’ve
promised to pay him a visit.’
‘To pay him a visit?’
‘To go and see his view, his pictures, his daughter—I
don’t know exactly what. Madame Merle’s to take me; she
tells me a great many ladies call on him.’
‘Ah, with Madame Merle you may go anywhere, de con-
fiance,’ said Ralph. ‘She knows none but the best people.’
Isabel said no more about Mr. Osmond, but she present-
ly remarked to her cousin that she was not satisfied with
his tone about Madame Merle. ‘It seems to me you insinu-
ate things about her. I don’t know what you mean, but if
you’ve any grounds for disliking her I think you should ei-
ther mention them frankly or else say nothing at all.’
Ralph, however, resented this charge with more apparent
earnestness than he commonly used. ‘I speak of Madame
Merle exactly as I speak to her: with an even exaggerated
respect.’

352 The Portrait of a Lady