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some clever fellow-=I mean some sharp young doctor; but
he wouldn’t hear of it. If you don’t mind my saying so, I
think it was a most extraordinary time for Mrs. Touchett to
decide on going to America.’
Isabel had listened eagerly; her face was full of pain and
wonder. ‘My aunt does that at fixed periods and lets noth-
ing turn her aside. When the date comes round she starts; I
think she’d have started if Ralph had been dying.’
‘I sometimes think he is dying,’ Lord Warburton said.
Isabel sprang up. ‘I’ll go to him then now.’
He checked her; he was a little disconcerted at the quick
effect of his words. ‘I don’t mean I thought so to-night.
On the contrary, to-day, in the train, he seemed particu-
larly well; the idea of our reaching Rome-he’s very fond of
Rome, you know-gave him strength. An hour ago, when I
bade him good-night, he told me he was very tired, but very
happy. Go to him in the morning; that’s all I mean. I didn’t
tell him I was coming here; I didn’t decide to till after we
had separated. Then I remembered he had told me you had
an evening, and that it was this very Thursday. It occurred
to me to come in and tell you he’s here, and let you know
you had perhaps better not wait for him to call. I think he
said he hadn’t written to you.’ There was no need of Isabel’s
declaring that she would act upon Lord Warburton’s infor-
mation; she looked, as she sat there, like a winged creature
held back. ‘Let alone that I wanted to see you myself,’ her
visitor gallantly added.
‘I don’t understand Ralph’s plan; it seems to me very
wild,’ she said.

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