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mean?’
‘It’s easy to displease you. Don’t you see how wise I am to
be careful? I notify you, at any rate, as I notified Osmond,
that I wash my hands of the love-affairs of Miss Pansy and
Mr. Edward Rosier. Je n’y peux rien, moi! I can’t talk to Pan-
sy about him. Especially,’ added Madame Merle, ‘as I don’t
think him a paragon of husbands.’
Isabel reflected a little; after which, with a smile, ‘You
don’t wash your hands then!’ she said. After which again
she added in another tone: ‘You can’t-you’re too much in-
terested.’
Madame Merle slowly rose; she had given Isabel a look as
rapid as the intimation that had gleamed before our heroine
a few moments before. Only this time the latter saw noth-
ing. ‘Ask him the next time, and you’ll see.’
‘I can’t ask him; he has ceased to come to the house. Gil-
bert has let him know that he’s not welcome.’
‘Ah yes,’ said Madame Merle, ‘I forgot that-though it’s
the burden of his lamentation. He says Osmond has insult-
ed him. All the same,’ she went on, ‘Osmond doesn’t dislike
him so much as he thinks.’ She had got up as if to close the
conversation, but she lingered, looking about her, and had
evidently more to say. Isabel perceived this and even saw the
point she had in view; but Isabel also had her own reasons
for not opening the way.
‘That must have pleased him, if you’ve told him,’ she an-
swered, smiling.
‘Certainly I’ve told him; as far as that goes I’ve encour-
aged him. I’ve preached patience, have said that his case isn’t

580 The Portrait of a Lady