Page 76 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

sometimes came in forms that puzzled him. She questioned
him immensely about England, about the British constitu-
tion, the English character, the state of politics, the manners
and customs of the royal family, the peculiarities of the ar-
istocracy, the way of living and thinking of his neighbours;
and in begging to be enlightened on these points she usually
enquired whether they corresponded with the descriptions
in the books. The old man always looked at her a little with
his fine dry smile while he smoothed down the shawl spread
across his legs.
‘The books?’ he once said; ‘well, I don’t know much about
the books. You must ask Ralph about that. I’ve always ascer-
tained for myself—got my information in the natural form.
I never asked many questions even; I just kept quiet and
took notice. Of course I’ve had very good opportunities—
better than what a young lady would naturally have. I’m of
an inquisitive disposition, though you mightn’t think it if
you were to watch me: however much you might watch me
I should be watching you more. I’ve been watching these
people for upwards of thirty-five years, and I don’t hesitate
to say that I’ve acquired considerable information. It’s a very
fine country on the whole—finer perhaps than what we give
it credit for on the other side. There are several improve-
ments I should like to see introduced; but the necessity of
them doesn’t seem to be generally felt as yet. When the ne-
cessity of a thing is generally felt they usually manage to
accomplish it; but they seem to feel pretty comfortable
about waiting till then. I certainly feel more at home among
them than I expected to when I first came over; I suppose

76 The Portrait of a Lady