Page 564 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

‘Ridiculous? Not in the least, if you really like her.’
‘I think her a delightful little person. I don’t know when
a girl of that age has pleased me more.’
‘She’s a charming creature. Ah, she at least is genuine.’
‘Of course there’s the difference in our ages-more than
twenty years.’
‘My dear Warburton,’ said Ralph, ‘are you serious?’
‘Perfectly serious-as far as I’ve got.’
‘I’m very glad. And, heaven help us,’ cried Ralph, ‘how
cheered-up old Osmond will be!’
His companion frowned. ‘I say, don’t spoil it. I shouldn’t
propose for his daughter to please him.’
‘He’ll have the perversity to be pleased all the same.’
‘He’s not so fond of me as that,’ said his lordship.
‘As that? My dear Warburton, the drawback of your posi-
tion is that people needn’t be fond of you at all to wish to be
connected with you. Now, with me in such a case, I should
have the happy confidence that they loved me.’
Lord Warburton seemed scarcely in the mood for doing
justice to general axioms-he was thinking of a special case.
‘Do you judge she’ll be pleased?’
‘The girl herself? Delighted, surely.’ ‘No, no; I mean Mrs.
Osmond.’
Ralph looked at him a moment. ‘My dear fellow, what
has she to do with it?’
‘Whatever she chooses. She’s very fond of Pansy.’
‘Very true-very true.’ And Ralph slowly got up. ‘It’s an in-
teresting question-how far her fondness for Pansy will carry
her.’ He stood there a moment with his hands in his pockets

564 The Portrait of a Lady