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tudes. ‘Do you mean as most gentlemen behave? That would
be much to be thankful for! Of course Osmond’s a gentle-
man; his own sister needn’t be reminded of that. But does
he think he can marry any girl he happens to pick out? Os-
mond’s a gentleman, of course; but I must say I’ve never,
no, no, never, seen any one of Osmond’s pretensions! What
they’re all founded on is more than I can say. I’m his own
sister; I might be supposed to know. Who is he, if you please?
What has he ever done? If there had been anything particu-
larly grand in his origin—if he were made of some superior
clay—I presume I should have got some inkling of it. If there
had been any great honours or splendours in the family I
should certainly have made the most of them: they would
have been quite in my line. But there’s nothing, nothing,
nothing. One’s parents were charming people of course; but
so were yours, I’ve no doubt. Every one’s a charming person
now-a-days. Even I’m a charming person; don’t laugh, it has
literally been said. As for Osmond, he has always appeared
to believe that he’s descended from the gods.’
‘You may say what you please,’ said Madame Merle, who
had listened to this quick outbreak none the less attentively,
we may believe, because her eye wandered away from the
speaker and her hands busied themselves with adjusting
the knots of ribbon on her dress. ‘You Osmonds are a fine
race—your blood must flow from some very pure source.
Your brother, like an intelligent man, has had the convic-
tion of it if he has not had the proofs. You’re modest about it,
but you yourself are extremely distinguished. What do you
say about your niece? The child’s a little princess. Neverthe-

384 The Portrait of a Lady