Page 526 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

‘Did you say papa knows?’
‘You told me just now he knows everything.’
‘I think you must make sure,’ said Pansy.
‘Ah, my dear, when once I’m sure of you!’ Rosier mur-
mured in her ear; whereupon she turned back to the other
rooms with a little air of consistency which seemed to imply
that their appeal should be immediate.
The other rooms meanwhile had become conscious of
the arrival of Madame Merle, who, wherever she went, pro-
duced an impression when she entered. How she did it the
most attentive spectator could not have told you, for she nei-
ther spoke loud, nor laughed profusely, nor moved rapidly,
nor dressed with splendour, nor appealed in any appreciable
manner to the audience. Large, fair, smiling, serene, there
was something in her very tranquillity that diffused itself,
and when people looked around it was because of a sudden
quiet. On this occasion she had done the quietest thing she
could do; after embracing Mrs. Osmond, which was more
striking, she had sat down on a small sofa to commune with
the master of the house. There was a brief exchange of com-
monplaces between these two-they always paid, in public,
a certain formal tribute to the commonplace-and then Ma-
dame Merle, whose eyes had been wandering, asked if little
Mr. Rosier had come this evening.
‘He came nearly an hour ago-but he has disappeared,’
Osmond said.
‘And where’s Pansy?’
‘In the other room. There are several people there.’
‘He’s probably among them,’ said Madame Merle.

526 The Portrait of a Lady