Page 443 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

‘Ah, comme cela se trouve!’ Madame Merle exclaimed. ‘I
myself have been thinking it would be a kindness to pay the
child a little visit before I go off.’
‘We can go together then,’ Isabel reasonably said: ‘rea-
sonably’ because the proposal was not uttered in the spirit
of enthusiasm. She had prefigured her small pilgrimage as
made in solitude; she should like it better so. She was nev-
ertheless prepared to sacrifice this mystic sentiment to her
great consideration for her friend.
That personage finely meditated. ‘After all, why should
we both go; having, each of us, so much to do during these
last hours?’
‘Very good; I can easily go alone.’
‘I don’t know about your going alone—to the house of
a handsome bachelor. He has been married—but so long
ago!’
Isabel stared. ‘When Mr. Osmond’s away what does it
matter?’
‘They don’t know he’s away, you see.’
‘They? Whom do you mean?’
‘Every one. But perhaps it doesn’t signify.’
‘If you were going why shouldn’t I?’ Isabel asked.
‘Because I’m an old frump and you’re a beautiful young
woman.’
‘Granting all that, you’ve not promised.’
‘How much you think of your promises!’ said the elder
woman in mild mockery.
‘I think a great deal of my promises. Does that surprise
you?’

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