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won’t like that. You’re afraid you’ll see too much of me.’
‘It doesn’t matter what I like. I certainly can’t expect you
to leave this delightful place on my account. But I confess
I’m afraid of you.’
‘Afraid I’ll begin again? I promise to be very careful.’
They had gradually stopped and they stood a moment
face to face. ‘Poor Lord Warburton!’ she said with a com-
passion intended to be good for both of them.
‘Poor Lord Warburton indeed! But I’ll be careful.’
‘You may be unhappy, but you shall not make me so. That
I can’t allow.’
‘If I believed I could make you unhappy I think I should
try it.’ At this she walked in advance and he also proceeded.
‘I’ll never say a word to displease you.’
‘Very good. If you do, our friendship’s at an end.’
‘Perhaps some day—after a while—you’ll give me leave.’
‘Give you leave to make me unhappy?’
He hesitated. ‘To tell you again-’ But he checked himself.
‘I’ll keep it down. I’ll keep it down always.’
Ralph Touchett had been joined in his visit to the exca-
vation by Miss Stackpole and her attendant, and these three
now emerged from among the mounds of earth and stone
collected round the aperture and came into sight of Isa-
bel and her companion. Poor Ralph hailed his friend with
joy qualified by wonder, and Henrietta exclaimed in a high
voice ‘Gracious, there’s that lord!’ Ralph and his English
neighbour greeted with the austerity with which, after long
separation, English neighbours greet, and Miss Stackpole
rested her large intellectual gaze upon the sunburnt trav-

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