Page 442 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

Chapter 30

She returned on the morrow to Florence, under her
cousin’s escort, and Ralph Touchett, though usually restive
under railway discipline, thought very well of the succes-
sive hours passed in the train that hurried his companion
away from the city now distinguished by Gilbert Osmond’s
preference—hours that were to form the first stage in a larg-
er scheme of travel. Miss Stackpole had remained behind;
she was planning a little trip to Naples, to be carried out
with Mr. Bantling’s aid. Isabel was to have three days in
Florence before the 4th of June, the date of Mrs. Touchett’s
departure, and she determined to devote the last of these to
her promise to call on Pansy Osmond. Her plan, however,
seemed for a moment likely to modify itself in deference
to an idea of Madame Merle’s. This lady was still at Casa
Touchett; but she too was on the point of leaving Florence,
her next station being an ancient castle in the mountains
of Tuscany, the residence of a noble family of that country,
whose acquaintance (she had known them, as she said, ‘for-
ever’) seemed to Isabel, in the light of certain photographs
of their immense crenellated dwelling which her friend was
able to show her, a precious privilege. She mentioned to this
fortunate woman that Mr. Osmond had asked her to take
a look at his daughter, but didn’t mention that he had also
made her a declaration of love.

442 The Portrait of a Lady