Page 510 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

francs a year. With the talent I have for arranging, we can
live beautifully on such an income.’
‘Beautifully, no. Sufficiently, yes. Even that depends on
where you live.’
‘Well, in Paris. I would undertake it in Paris.’
Madame Merle’s mouth rose to the left. ‘It wouldn’t be
famous; you’d have to make use of the teacups, and they’d
get broken.’
‘We don’t want to be famous. If Miss Osmond should
have everything pretty it would be enough. When one’s as
pretty as she one can afford-well, quite cheap faience. She
ought never to wear anything but muslin-without the sprig,’
said Rosier reflectively.
‘Wouldn’t you even allow her the sprig? She’d be much
obliged to you at any rate for that theory.’
‘It’s the correct one, I assure you; and I’m sure she’d enter
into it. She understands all that; that’s why I love her.’
‘She’s a very good little girl, and most tidy-also extremely
graceful.
But her father, to the best of my belief, can give her noth-
ing.’
Rosier scarce demurred. ‘I don’t in the least desire that
he should. But I may remark, all the same, that he lives like
a rich man.’
‘The money’s his wife’s; she brought him a large for-
tune.’
‘Mrs. Osmond then is very fond of her stepdaughter; she
may do something.’
‘For a love-sick swain you have your eyes about you!’ Ma-

510 The Portrait of a Lady