MadameMerleslowlyseatedherself，withherarmsfoldedandherwhitehandsarrangedasasupporttooneofthemandanornament，asitwere，totheother。Shelookedexquisitelycalmbutimpressivelysad。Onyourside，don’ttrytofrightenme。Iwonderifyouguesssomeofmythoughts。
　　ItroubleaboutthemnomorethanIcanhelp。I’vequiteenoughofmyown。
　　That’sbecausethey’resodelightful。
　　Osmondrestedhisheadagainstthebackofhischairandlookedathiscompanionwithacynicaldirectnesswhichseemedalsopartlyanexpressionoffatigue。Youdoaggravateme，heremarkedinamoment。
　　I’mverytired。
　　Ehmoidonc！criedMadameMerle。
　　Withyouit’sbecauseyoufatigueyourself。Withmeit’snotmyownfault。
　　WhenIfatiguemyselfit’sforyou。I’vegivenyouaninterest。
　　That’sagreatgift。
　　Doyoucallitaninterest？Osmondenquiredwithdetachment。
　　Certainly，sinceithelpsyoutopassyourtime。
　　Thetimehasneverseemedlongertomethanthiswinter。
　　You’veneverlookedbetter。you’veneverbeensoagreeable，sobrilliant。
　　Damnmybrilliancy！hethoughtfullymurmured。Howlittle，afterall，youknowme！
　　IfIdon’tknowyouIknownothing，smiledMadameMerle。You’vethefeelingofcompletesuccess。
　　No，IshallnothavethattillI’vemadeyoustopjudgingme。
　　Ididthatlongago。Ispeakfromoldknowledge。Butyouexpressyourselfmoretoo。
　　Osmondjusthungfire。Iwishyou’dexpressyourselfless！
　　Youwishtocondemnmetosilence？RememberthatI’veneverbeenachatterbox。AtanyratetherearethreeorfourthingsIshouldliketosaytoyoufirst。Yourwifedoesn’tknowwhattodowithherself，shewentonwithachangeoftone。
　　Pardonme。sheknowsperfectly。Shehasalinesharplydrawn。Shemeanstocarryoutherideas。
　　Herideasto-daymustberemarkable。
　　Certainlytheyare。Shehasmoreofthemthanever。
　　Shewasunabletoshowmeanythismorning，saidMadameMerle。
　　Sheseemedinaverysimple，almostinastupid，stateofmind。Shewascompletelybewildered。
　　Youhadbettersayatoncethatshewaspathetic。
　　Ahno，Idon’twanttoencourageyoutoomuch。
　　Hestillhadhisheadagainstthecushionbehindhim。theankleofonefootrestedontheotherknee。Sohesatforawhile。Ishouldliketoknowwhat’sthematterwithyou，hesaidatlast。
　　Thematter-thematter-！AndhereMadameMerlestopped。Thenshewentonwithasuddenoutbreakofpassion，aburstofsummerthunderinaclearsky：ThematteristhatIwouldgivemyrighthandtobeabletoweep，andthatIcan’t！
　　Whatgoodwoulditdoyoutoweep？
　　ItwouldmakemefeelasIfeltbeforeIknewyou。
　　IfI’vedriedyourtears，that’ssomething。ButI’veseenyoushedthem。
　　Oh，Ibelieveyou’llmakemecrystill。Imeanmakemehowllikeawolf。I’veagreathope，I’veagreatneed，ofthat。Iwasvilethismorning。Iwashorrid，shesaid。
　　IfIsabelwasinthestupidstateofmindyoumentionsheprobablydidn’tperceiveit，Osmondanswered。
　　Itwaspreciselymydeviltrythatstupefiedher。Icouldn’thelpit。Iwasfullofsomethingbad。Perhapsitwassomethinggood。I
　　don’tknow。You’venotonlydriedupmytears。you’vedriedupmysoul。
　　It’snotIthenthatamresponsibleformywife’scondition，
　　Osmondsaid。It’spleasanttothinkthatIshallgetthebenefitofyourinfluenceuponher。Don’tyouknowthesoulisanimmortalprinciple？Howcanitsufferalteration？
　　Idon’tbelieveatallthatit’sanimmortalprinciple。Ibelieveitcanperfectlybedestroyed。That’swhathashappenedtomine，whichwasaverygoodonetostartwith。andit’syouIhavetothankforit。You’reverybad，sheaddedwithgravityinheremphasis。
　　Isthisthewaywe’retoend？Osmondaskedwiththesamestudiedcoldness。
　　Idon’tknowhowwe’retoend。IwishIdid！Howdobadpeopleend？-especiallyastotheircommoncrimes。Youhavemademeasbadasyourself。
　　Idon’tunderstandyou。Youseemtomequitegoodenough，saidOsmond，hisconsciousindifferencegivinganextremeeffecttothewords。
　　MadameMerle’sself-possessiontendedonthecontrarytodiminish，andshewasnearerlosingitthanonanyoccasiononwhichwehavehadthepleasureofmeetingher。Theglowofhereyeturnedsombre。hersmilebetrayedapainfuleffort。GoodenoughforanythingthatI’vedonewithmyself？Isupposethat’swhatyoumean。
　　Goodenoughtobealwayscharming！Osmondexclaimed，smilingtoo。
　　OhGod！hiscompanionmurmured。and，sittingthereinherripefreshness，shehadrecoursetothesamegestureshehadprovokedonIsabel’spartinthemorning：shebentherfaceandcovereditwithherhands。
　　Areyougoingtoweepafterall？Osmondasked。andonherremainingmotionlesshewenton：
　　HaveIevercomplainedtoyou？
　　Shedroppedherhandquickly。No，you’vetakenyourrevengeotherwise-youhavetakenitonher。
　　Osmondthrewbackhisheadfurther。helookedawhileattheceilingandmighthavebeensupposedtobeappealing，inaninformalway，totheheavenlypowers。Oh，theimaginationofwomen！It’salwaysvulgar，atbottom。Youtalkofrevengelikeathird-ratenovelist。
　　Ofcourseyouhaven’tcomplained。You’veenjoyedyourtriumphtoomuch。
　　I’mrathercurioustoknowwhatyoucallmytriumph。
　　You’vemadeyourwifeafraidofyou。
　　Osmondchangedhisposition。heleanedforward，restinghiselbowsonhiskneesandlookingawhileatabeautifuloldPersianrug，athisfeet。Hehadanairofrefusingtoacceptanyone’svaluationofanything，evenoftime，andofpreferringtoabidebyhisown。apeculiaritywhichmadehimatmomentsanirritatingpersontoconversewith。Isabel’snotafraidofme，andit’snotwhatIwish，hesaidatlast。Towhatdoyouwanttoprovokemewhenyousaysuchthingsasthat？
　　I’vethoughtoveralltheharmyoucandome，MadameMerleanswered。Yourwifewasafraidofmethismorning，butinmeitwasreallyyoushefeared。
　　Youmayhavesaidthingsthatwereinverybadtaste。I’mnotresponsibleforthat。Ididn’tseetheuseofyourgoingtoseeheratall：you’recapableofactingwithouther。I’venotmadeyouafraidofmethatIcansee，hewenton。howthenshouldIhavemadeher？
　　You’reatleastasbrave。Ican’tthinkwhereyou’vepickedupsuchrubbish。onemightsupposeyouknewmebythistime。Hegotupashespokeandwalkedtothechimney，wherehestoodamomentbendinghiseye，asifhehadseenthemforthefirsttime，onthedelicatespecimensofrareporcelainwithwhichitwascovered。Hetookupasmallcupandhelditinhishand。then，stillholdingitandleaninghisarmonthemantel，hepursued：Youalwaysseetoomuchineverything。youoverdoit。youlosesightofthereal。I’mmuchsimplerthanyouthink。
　　Ithinkyou’reverysimple。AndMadameMerlekepthereyeonhercup。I’vecometothatwithtime。Ijudgedyou，asIsay，ofold。butit’sonlysinceyourmarriagethatI’veunderstoodyou。I’veseenbetterwhatyouhavebeentoyourwifethanIeversawwhatyouwereforme。Pleasebeverycarefulofthatpreciousobject。
　　Italreadyhasaweebitofatinycrack，saidOsmonddrylyasheputitdown。Ifyoudidn’tunderstandmebeforeImarrieditwascruellyrashofyoutoputmeintosuchabox。However，Itookafancytomyboxmyself。Ithoughtitwouldbeacomfortablefit。Iaskedverylittle。Ionlyaskedthatsheshouldlikeme。
　　Thatsheshouldlikeyousomuch！
　　Somuch，ofcourse。insuchacaseoneasksthemaximum。Thatsheshouldadoreme，ifyouwill。Ohyes，Iwantedthat。
　　Ineveradoredyou，saidMadameMerle。
　　Ah，butyoupretendedto！
　　It’struethatyouneveraccusedmeofbeingacomfortablefit，
　　MadameMerlewenton。
　　Mywifehasdeclined-declinedtodoanythingofthesort，saidOsmond。Ifyou’redeterminedtomakeatragedyofthat，thetragedy’shardlyforher。
　　Thetragedy’sforme！MadameMerleexclaimed，risingwithalonglowsighbuthavingaglanceatthesametimeforthecontentsofhermantel-shelf。ItappearsthatI’mtobeseverelytaughtthedisadvantagesofafalseposition。
　　Youexpressyourselflikeasentenceinacopy-book。Wemustlookforourcomfortwherewecanfindit。Ifmywifedoesn’tlikeme，atleastmychilddoes。IshalllookforcompensationsinPansy。
　　FortunatelyIhaven’tafaulttofindwithher。
　　Ah，shesaidsoftly，ifIhadachild-！
　　Osmondwaited，andthen，withalittleformalair，Thechildrenofothersmaybeagreatinterest！heannounced。
　　You’remorelikeacopy-bookthanI。There’ssomethingafterallthatholdsustogether。
　　IsittheideaoftheharmImaydoyou？Osmondasked。
　　No。it’stheideaofthegoodImaydoforyou。It’sthat，
　　MadameMerlepursued，thatmademesojealousofIsabel。Iwantittobemywork，sheadded，withherface，whichhadgrownhardandbitter，relaxingtoitshabitofsmoothness。
　　Herfriendtookuphishatandhisumbrella，andaftergivingtheformerarticletwoorthreestrokeswithhiscoat-cuff，Onthewhole，Ithink，hesaid，youhadbetterleaveittome。
　　Afterhehadlefthershewent，thefirstthing，andliftedfromthemantel-shelftheattenuatedcoffee-cupinwhichhehadmentionedtheexistenceofacrack。butshelookedatitratherabstractedly。
　　HaveIbeensovileallfornothing？shevaguelywailed。
　　CHAPTER50
　　AstheCountessGeminiwasnotacquaintedwiththeancientmonumentsIsabeloccasionallyofferedtointroducehertotheseinterestingrelicsandtogivetheirafternoondriveanantiquarianaim。TheCountess，whoprofessedtothinkhersister-in-lawaprodigyoflearning，nevermadeanobjection，andgazedatmassesofRomanbrickworkaspatientlyasiftheyhadbeenmoundsofmoderndrapery。
　　Shehadnotthehistoricsense，thoughshehadinsomedirectionstheanecdotic，andasregardsherselftheapologetic，butshewassodelightedtobeinRomethatsheonlydesiredtofloatwiththecurrent。ShewouldgladlyhavepassedanhoureverydayinthedampdarknessoftheBathsofTitusifithadbeenaconditionofherremainingatPalazzoRoccanera。Isabel，however，wasnotaseverecicerone。sheusedtovisittheruinschieflybecausetheyofferedanexcusefortalkingaboutothermattersthanthelove-affairsoftheladiesofFlorence，astowhichhercompanionwasneverwearyofofferinginformation。ItmustbeaddedthatduringthesevisitstheCountessforbadeherselfeveryformofactiveresearch。herpreferencewastositinthecarriageandexclaimthateverythingwasmostinteresting。ItwasinthismannerthatshehadhithertoexaminedtheColiseum，totheinfiniteregretofherniece，who-withalltherespectthatsheowedher-couldnotseewhysheshouldnotdescendfromthevehicleandenterthebuilding。Pansyhadsolittlechancetoramblethatherviewofthecasewasnotwhollydisinterested。itmaybedivinedthatshehadasecrethopethat，onceinside，herparents’guestmightbeinducedtoclimbtotheuppertiers。TherecameadaywhentheCountessannouncedherwillingnesstoundertakethisfeat-amildafternooninMarchwhenthewindymonthexpresseditselfinoccasionalpuffsofspring。ThethreeladieswentintotheColiseumtogether，butIsabellefthercompanionstowanderovertheplace。ShehadoftenascendedtothosedesolateledgesfromwhichtheRomancrowdusedtobellowapplauseandwherenowthewildflowerswhentheyareallowedbloominthedeepcrevices。andto-dayshefeltwearyanddisposedtositinthedespoiledarena。Itmadeanintermissiontoo，fortheCountessoftenaskedmorefromone’sattentionthanshegaveinreturn。andIsabelbelievedthatwhenshewasalonewithherniecesheletthedustgatherforamomentontheancientscandalsoftheArnide。Shesoremainedbelowtherefore，whilePansyguidedherundiscriminatingaunttothesteepbrickstaircaseatthefootofwhichthecustodianunlocksthetallwoodengate。Thegreatenclosurewashalfinshadow。thewesternsunbroughtoutthepaleredtoneofthegreatblocksoftravertine-thelatentcolourthatistheonlylivingelementintheimmenseruin。Hereandtherewanderedapeasantoratourist，lookingupatthefarsky-linewhere，intheclearstillness，amultitudeofswallowskeptcirclingandplunging。Isabelpresentlybecameawarethatoneoftheothervisitors，plantedinthemiddleofthearena，hadturnedhisattentiontoherownpersonandwaslookingatherwithacertainlittlepoiseoftheheadwhichshehadsomeweeksbeforeperceivedtobecharacteristicofbaffledbutindestructiblepurpose。Suchanattitude，today，couldbelongonlytoMr。EdwardRosier。andthisgentlemanprovedinfacttohavebeenconsideringthequestionofspeakingtoher。Whenhehadassuredhimselfthatshewasunaccompaniedhedrewnear，remarkingthatthoughshewouldnotanswerhislettersshewouldperhapsnotwhollycloseherearstohisspokeneloquence。Sherepliedthatherstepdaughterwascloseathandandthatshecouldonlygivehimfiveminutes。whereuponhetookouthiswatchandsatdownuponabrokenblock。
　　It’sverysoontold，saidEdwardRosier。I’vesoldallmybibelots！Isabelgaveinstinctivelyanexclamationofhorror。itwasasifhehadtoldherhehadhadallhisteethdrawn。I’vesoldthembyauctionattheHotelDrouot，hewenton。Thesaletookplacethreedaysago，andthey’vetelegraphedmetheresult。It’smagnificent。
　　I’mgladtohearit。butIwishyouhadkeptyourprettythings。
　　Ihavethemoneyinstead-fiftythousanddollars。WillMr。Osmondthinkmerichenoughnow？
　　Isitforthatyoudidit？Isabelaskedgently。
　　Forwhatelseintheworldcoulditbe？That’stheonlythingI
　　thinkof。IwenttoParisandmademyarrangements。Icouldn’tstopforthesale。Icouldn’thaveseenthemgoingoff。Ithinkitwouldhavekilledme。ButIputthemintogoodhands，andtheybroughthighprices。IshouldtellyouIhavekeptmyenamels。NowIhavethemoneyinmypocket，andhecan’tsayI’mpoor！theyoungmanexclaimeddefiantly。
　　He’llsaynowthatyou’renotwise，saidIsabel，asifGilbertOsmondhadneversaidthisbefore。
　　Rosiergaveherasharplook。DoyoumeanthatwithoutmybibelotsI’mnothing？Doyoumeantheywerethebestthingaboutme？
　　That’swhattheytoldmeinParis。ohtheywereveryfrankaboutit。
　　Buttheyhadn’tseenher！
　　Mydearfriend，youdeservetosucceed，saidIsabelverykindly。
　　Yousaythatsosadlythatit’sthesameasifyousaidI
　　shouldn’t。Andhequestionedhereyeswiththecleartrepidationofhisown。HehadtheairofamanwhoknowshehasbeenthetalkofParisforaweekandisfullhalfaheadtallerinconsequence，butwhoalsohasapainfulsuspicionthatinspiteofthisincreaseofstatureoneortwopersonsstillhavetheperversitytothinkhimdiminutive。IknowwhathappenedherewhileIwasaway，hewenton。WhatdoesMr。OsmondexpectaftershehasrefusedLordWarburton？
　　Isabeldebated。Thatshe’llmarryanothernobleman。
　　Whatothernobleman？
　　Onethathe’llpickout。
　　Rosierslowlygotup，puttinghiswatchintohiswaistcoat-pocket。
　　You’relaughingatsomeone，butthistimeIdon’tthinkit’satme。
　　Ididn’tmeantolaugh，saidIsabel。Ilaughveryseldom。Nowyouhadbettergoaway。
　　Ifeelverysafe！Rosierdeclaredwithoutmoving。Thismightbe。
　　butitevidentlymadehimfeelmoresotomaketheannouncementinratheraloudvoice，balancinghimselfalittlecomplacentlyonhistoesandlookingallroundtheColiseumasifitwerefilledwithanaudience。SuddenlyIsabelsawhimchangecolour。therewasmoreofanaudiencethanhehadsuspected。Sheturnedandperceivedthathertwocompanionshadreturnedfromtheirexcursion。Youmustreallygoaway，shesaidquickly。
　　Ah，mydearlady，pityme！EdwardRosiermurmuredinavoicestrangelyatvariancewiththeannouncementIhavejustquoted。Andthenheaddedeagerly，likeamanwhointhemidstofhismiseryisseizedbyahappythought：IsthatladytheCountessGemini？I’veagreatdesiretobepresentedtoher。
　　Isabellookedathimamoment。Shehasnoinfluencewithherbrother。
　　Ah，whatamonsteryoumakehimout！AndRosierfacedtheCountess，whoadvanced，infrontofPansy，withananimationpartlydueperhapstothefactthatsheperceivedhersister-in-lawtobeengagedinconversationwithaveryprettyyoungman。
　　I’mgladyou’vekeptyourenamels！Isabelcalledasshelefthim。ShewentstraighttoPansy，who，onseeingEdwardRosier，hadstoppedshort，withloweredeyes。We’llgobacktothecarriage，shesaidgently。
　　Yes，it’sgettinglate，Pansyreturnedmoregentlystill。Andshewentonwithoutamurmur，withoutfalteringorglancingback。
　　Isabel，however，allowingherselfthislastliberty，sawthatameetinghadimmediatelytakenplacebetweentheCountessandMr。
　　Rosier。Hehadremovedhishatandwasbowingandsmiling。hehadevidentlyintroducedhimself，whiletheCountess’sexpressivebackdisplayedtoIsabel’seyeagraciousinclination。Thesefacts，nonetheless，werepresentlylosttosight，forIsabelandPansytooktheirplacesagaininthecarriage。Pansy，whofacedherstepmother，atfirstkepthereyesfixedonherlap。thensheraisedthemandrestedthemonIsabel’s。Thereshoneoutofeachofthemalittlemelancholyray-asparkoftimidpassionwhichtouchedIsabeltotheheart。Atthesametimeawaveofenvypassedoverhersoul，asshecomparedthetremulouslonging，thedefiniteidealofthechildwithherowndrydespair。PoorlittlePansy！sheaffectionatelysaid。
　　Ohnevermind！Pansyansweredinthetoneofeagerapology。
　　Andthentherewasasilence。theCountesswasalongtimecoming。
　　Didyoushowyouraunteverything，anddidsheenjoyit？Isabelaskedatlast。
　　Yes，Ishowedhereverything。Ithinkshewasverymuchpleased。
　　Andyou’renottired，Ihope。
　　Ohno，thankyou，I’mnottired。
　　TheCountessstillremainedbehind，sothatIsabelrequestedthefootmantogointotheColiseumandtellhertheywerewaiting。HepresentlyreturnedwiththeannouncementthattheSignoraContessabeggedthemnottowait-shewouldcomehomeinacab！
　　Aboutaweekafterthislady’squicksympathieshadenlistedthemselveswithMr。Rosier，Isabel，goingratherlatetodressfordinner，foundPansysittinginherroom。Thegirlseemedtohavebeenawaitingher。shegotupfromherlowchair。Pardonmytakingtheliberty，shesaidinasmallvoice。Itwillbethelast-forsometime。
　　Hervoicewasstrange，andhereyes，widelyopened，hadanexcited，frightenedlook。You’renotgoingaway！Isabelexclaimed。
　　I’mgoingtotheconvent。
　　Totheconvent？
　　Pansydrewnearer，tillshewasnearenoughtoputherarmsroundIsabelandrestherheadonhershoulder。Shestoodthiswayamoment，perfectlystill。buthercompanioncouldfeelhertremble。Thequiverofherlittlebodyexpressedeverythingshewasunabletosay。Isabelneverthelesspressedher。Whyareyougoingtotheconvent？
　　Becausepapathinksitbest。Hesaysayounggirl’sbetter，everynowandthen，formakingalittleretreat。Hesaystheworld，alwaystheworld，isverybadforayounggirl。Thisisjustachanceforalittleseclusion-alittlereflexion。Pansyspokeinshortdetachedsentences，asifshecouldscarcetrustherself。andthensheaddedwithatriumphofself-control：Ithinkpapa’sright。I’vebeensomuchintheworldthiswinter。
　　HerannouncementhadastrangeeffectonIsabel。itseemedtocarryalargermeaningthanthegirlherselfknew。Whenwasthisdecided？sheasked。I’veheardnothingofit。
　　Papatoldmehalfanhourago。hethoughtitbetteritshouldn’tbetoomuchtalkedaboutinadvance。MadameCatherine’stocomeformeataquarterpastseven，andI’monlytotaketwofrocks。It’sonlyforafewweeks。I’msureitwillbeverygood。Ishallfindallthoseladieswhousedtobesokindtome，andIshallseethelittlegirlswhoarebeingeducated。I’mveryfondoflittlegirls，saidPansywithaneffectofdiminutivegrandeur。AndI’malsoveryfondofMotherCatherine。Ishallbeveryquietandthinkagreatdeal。
　　Isabellistenedtoher，holdingherbreath。shewasalmostawe-struck。
　　Thinkofmesometimes。
　　Ah，comeandseemesoon！criedPansy。andthecrywasverydifferentfromtheheroicremarksofwhichshehadjustdeliveredherself。
　　Isabelcouldsaynothingmore。sheunderstoodnothing。sheonlyfelthowlittlesheyetknewherhusband。Heranswertohisdaughterwasalong，tenderkiss。
　　HalfanhourlatershelearnedfromhermaidthatMadameCatherinehadarrivedinacabandhaddepartedagainwiththesignorina。Ongoingtothedrawing-roombeforedinnershefoundtheCountessGeminialone，andthisladycharacterizedtheincidentbyexclaiming，withawonderfultossofthehead，Envoila，machere，unepose！Butifitwasanaffectationshewasatalosstoseewhatherhusbandaffected。Shecouldonlydimlyperceivethathehadmoretraditionsthanshesupposed。Ithadbecomeherhabittobesocarefulastowhatshesaidtohimthat，strangeasitmayappear，shehesitated，forseveralminutesafterhehadcomein，toalludetohisdaughter’ssuddendeparture：shespokeofitonlyaftertheywereseatedattable。ButshehadforbiddenherselfevertoaskOsmondaquestion。Allshecoulddowastomakeadeclaration，andtherewasonethatcameverynaturally。IshallmissPansyverymuch。
　　Helookedawhile，withhisheadinclinedalittle，atthebasketofflowersinthemiddleofthetable。Ahyes，hesaidatlast，I
　　hadthoughtofthat。Youmustgoandseeher，youknow。butnottoooften。IdaresayyouwonderwhyIsenthertothegoodsisters。butI
　　doubtifIcanmakeyouunderstand。Itdoesn’tmatter。don’ttroubleyourselfaboutit。That’swhyIhadnotspokenofit。Ididn’tbelieveyouwouldenterintoit。ButI’vealwayshadtheidea。I’vealwaysthoughtitapartoftheeducationofone’sdaughter。One’sdaughtershouldbefreshandfair。sheshouldbeinnocentandgentle。Withthemannersofthepresenttimesheisliabletobecomesodustyandcrumpled。Pansy’salittledusty，alittledishevelled。shehasknockedabouttoomuch。Thisbustling，pushingrabblethatcallsitselfsociety-oneshouldtakeheroutofitoccasionally。Conventsareveryquiet，veryconvenient，verysalutary。Iliketothinkofherthere，intheoldgarden，underthearcade，amongthosetranquilvirtuouswomen。Manyofthemaregentlewomenborn。severalofthemarenoble。Shewillhaveherbooksandherdrawing，shewillhaveherpiano。I’vemadethemostliberalarrangements。Thereistobenothingascetic。there’sjusttobeacertainlittlesenseofsequestration。
　　She’llhavetimetothink，andthere’ssomethingIwanthertothinkabout。Osmondspokedeliberately，reasonably，stillwithhisheadononeside，asifhewerelookingatthebasketofflowers。Histone，however，wasthatofamannotsomuchofferinganexplanationasputtingathingintowords-almostintopictures-tosee，himself，howitwouldlook。Heconsideredawhilethepicturehehadevokedandseemedgreatlypleasedwithit。Andthenhewenton：TheCatholicsareverywiseafterall。Theconventisagreatinstitution。wecan’tdowithoutit。itcorrespondstoanessentialneedinfamilies，insociety。It’saschoolofgoodmanners。it’saschoolofrepose。Oh，Idon’twanttodetachmydaughterfromtheworld，
　　headded。Idon’twanttomakeherfixherthoughtsonanyother。
　　Thisone’sverywell，assheshouldtakeit，andshemaythinkofitasmuchasshelikes。Onlyshemustthinkofitintherightway。
　　Isabelgaveanextremeattentiontothislittlesketch。shefounditindeedintenselyinteresting。Itseemedtoshowherhowfarherhusband’sdesiretobeeffectivewascapableofgoing-tothepointofplayingtheoretictricksonthedelicateorganismofhisdaughter。Shecouldnotunderstandhispurpose，no-notwholly。butsheunderstooditbetterthanhesupposedordesired，inasmuchasshewasconvincedthatthewholeproceedingwasanelaboratemystification，addressedtoherselfanddestinedtoactuponherimagination。Hehadwantedtodosomethingsuddenandarbitrary，somethingunexpectedandrefined。tomarkthedifferencebetweenhissympathiesandherown，andshowthatifheregardedhisdaughterasapreciousworkofartitwasnaturalheshouldbemoreandmorecarefulaboutthefinishingtouches。Ifhewishedtobeeffectivehehadsucceeded。theincidentstruckachillintoIsabel’sheart。Pansyhadknowntheconventinherchildhoodandhadfoundahappyhomethere。shewasfondofthegoodsisters，whowereveryfondofher，andtherewasthereforeforthemomentnodefinitehardshipinherlot。Butallthesamethegirlhadtakenfright。theimpressionherfatherdesiredtomakewouldevidentlybesharpenough。TheoldProtestanttraditionhadneverfadedfromIsabel’simagination，andasherthoughtsattachedthemselvestothisstrikingexampleofherhusband’sgenius-shesatlooking，likehim，atthebasketofflowers-poorlittlePansybecametheheroineofatragedy。Osmondwishedittobeknownthatheshrankfromnothing，andhiswifefoundithardtopretendtoeatherdinner。Therewasacertainreliefpresently，inhearingthehigh，strainedvoiceofhersister-in-law。
　　TheCountesstoo，apparently，hadbeenthinkingthethingout，buthadarrivedatadifferentconclusionfromIsabel。
　　It’sveryabsurd，mydearOsmond，shesaid，toinventsomanyprettyreasonsforpoorPansy’sbanishment。Whydon’tyousayatoncethatyouwanttogetheroutofmyway？Haven’tyoudiscoveredthatIthinkverywellofMr。Rosier？Idoindeed。heseemstomesimpaticissimo。Hehasmademebelieveintruelove。Ineverdidbefore！Ofcourseyou’vemadeupyourmindthatwiththoseconvictionsI’mdreadfulcompanyforPansy。
　　Osmondtookasipofaglassofwine。helookedperfectlygoodhumoured。MydearAmy，heanswered，smilingasifhewereutteringapieceofgallantry，Idon’tknowanythingaboutyourconvictions，butifIsuspectedthattheyinterferewithmineitwouldbemuchsimplertobanishyou。
　　CHAPTER51
　　TheCountesswasnotbanished，butshefelttheinsecurityofhertenureofherbrother’shospitality。AweekafterthisincidentIsabelreceivedatelegramfromEngland，datedfromGardencourtandbearingthestampofMrs。Touchett’sauthorship。Ralphcannotlastmanydays，itran，andifconvenientwouldliketoseeyou。Wishesmetosaythatyoumustcomeonlyifyou’venototherduties。Say，formyself，thatyouusedtotalkagooddealaboutyourdutyandtowonderwhatitwas。shallbecurioustoseewhetheryou’vefounditout。Ralphisreallydying，andthere’snoothercompany。Isabelwaspreparedforthisnews，havingreceivedfromHenriettaStackpoleadetailedaccountofherjourneytoEnglandwithherappreciativepatient。Ralphhadarrivedmoredeadthanalive，butshehadmanagedtoconveyhimtoGardencourt，wherehehadtakentohisbed，which，asMissStackpolewrote，heevidentlywouldneverleaveagain。Sheaddedthatshehadreallyhadtwopatientsonherhandsinsteadofone，inasmuchasMr。Goodwood，whohadbeenofnoearthlyuse，wasquiteasailing，inadifferentway，asMr。Touchett。AfterwardsshewrotethatshehadbeenobligedtosurrenderthefieldtoMrs。
　　Touchett，whohadjustreturnedfromAmericaandhadpromptlygivenhertounderstandthatshedidn’twishanyinterviewingatGardencourt。IsabelhadwrittentoherauntshortlyafterRalphcametoRome，lettingherknowofhiscriticalconditionandsuggestingthatsheshouldlosenotimeinreturningtoEurope。Mrs。Touchetthadtelegraphedanacknowledgementofthisadmonition，andtheonlyfurthernewsIsabelreceivedfromherwasthesecondtelegramIhavejustquoted。
　　Isabelstoodamomentlookingatthelattermissive。then，thrustingitintoherpocket，shewentstraighttothedoorofherhusband’sstudy。Heresheagainpausedaninstant，afterwhichsheopenedthedoorandwentin。Osmondwasseatedatthetablenearthewindowwithafoliovolumebeforehim，proppedagainstapileofbooks。
　　Thisvolumewasopenatapageofsmallcolouredplates，andIsabelpresentlysawthathehadbeencopyingfromitthedrawingofanantiquecoin。Aboxofwater-coloursandfinebrusheslaybeforehim，andhehadalreadytransferredtoasheetofimmaculatepaperthedelicate，finely-tinteddisk。Hisbackwasturnedtowardthedoor，butherecognizedhiswifewithoutlookinground。
　　Excusemefordisturbingyou，shesaid。
　　WhenIcometoyourroomIalwaysknock，heanswered，goingonwithhiswork。
　　Iforgot。Ihadsomethingelsetothinkof。Mycousin’sdying。
　　Ah，Idon’tbelievethat，saidOsmond，lookingathisdrawingthroughamagnifyingglass。Hewasdyingwhenwemarried。he’lloutliveusall。
　　Isabelgaveherselfnotime，nothought，toappreciatethecarefulcynicismofthisdeclaration。shesimplywentonquickly，fullofherownintention：Myaunthastelegraphedforme。ImustgotoGardencourt。
　　WhymustyougotoGardencourt？Osmondaskedinthetoneofimpartialcuriosity。
　　ToseeRalphbeforehedies。
　　Tothis，forsometime，hemadenorejoinder。hecontinuedtogivehischiefattentiontohiswork，whichwasofasortthatwouldbrooknonegligence。
　　Idon’tseetheneedofit，hesaidatlast。Hecametoseeyouhere。didn’tlikethat。IthoughthisbeinginRomeagreatmistake。
　　ButItolerateditbecauseitwastobethelasttimeyoushouldseehim。Nowyoutellmeit’snottohavebeenthelast。Ah，you’renotgrateful！
　　WhatamItobegratefulfor？
　　GilbertOsmondlaiddownhislittleimplements，blewaspeckofdustfromhisdrawing，slowlygotup，andforthefirsttimelookedathiswife。Formynothavinginterferedwhilehewashere。
　　Ohyes，Iam。Irememberperfectlyhowdistinctlyyouletmeknowyoudidn’tlikeit。Iwasverygladwhenhewentaway。
　　Leavehimalonethen。Don’trunafterhim。
　　Isabelturnedhereyesawayfromhim。theyresteduponhislittledrawing。ImustgotoEngland，shesaid，withafullconsciousnessthathertonemightstrikeanirritablemanoftasteasstupidlyobstinate。
　　Ishallnotlikeitifyoudo，Osmondremarked。
　　WhyshouldImindthat？Youwon’tlikeitifIdon’t。Youlikenothingdoordon’tdo。YoupretendtothinkIlie。
　　Osmondturnedslightlypale。hegaveacoldsmile。That’swhyyoumustgothen？Nottoseeyourcousin，buttotakearevengeonme。
　　Iknownothingaboutrevenge。
　　Ido，saidOsmond。Don’tgivemeanoccasion。
　　You’reonlytooeagertotakeone。YouwishimmenselythatI
　　wouldcommitsomefolly。
　　Ishouldbegratifiedinthatcaseifyoudisobeyedme。
　　IfIdisobeyedyou？saidIsabelinalowtonewhichhadtheeffectofmildness。
　　Letitbeclear。IfyouleaveRometo-dayitwillbeapieceofthemostdeliberate，themostcalculated，opposition。
　　Howcanyoucallitcalculated？Ireceivedmyaunt’stelegrambutthreeminutesago。
　　Youcalculaterapidly。it’sagreataccomplishment。Idon’tseewhyweshouldprolongourdiscussion。youknowmywish。Andhestoodthereasifheexpectedtoseeherwithdraw。
　　Butshenevermoved。shecouldn’tmove，strangeasitmayseem。
　　shestillwishedtojustifyherself。hehadthepower，inanextraordinarydegree，ofmakingherfeelthisneed。Therewassomethinginherimaginationhecouldalwaysappealtoagainstherjudgement。You’venoreasonforsuchawish，saidIsabel，andI’veeveryreasonforgoing。Ican’ttellyouhowunjustyouseemtome。ButIthinkyouknow。It’syourownoppositionthat’scalculated。It’smalignant。
　　Shehadneverutteredherworstthoughttoherhusbandbefore，andthesensationofhearingitwasevidentlynewtoOsmond。Butheshowednosurprise，andhiscoolnesswasapparentlyaproofthathehadbelievedhiswifewouldinfactbeunabletoresistforeverhisingeniousendeavourtodrawherout。It’sallthemoreintensethen，
　　heanswered。Andheaddedalmostasifheweregivingherafriendlycounsel：Thisisaveryimportantmatter。Sherecognizedthat。shewasfullyconsciousoftheweightoftheoccasion。sheknewthatbetweenthemtheyhadarrivedatacrisis。Itsgravitymadehercareful。shesaidnothing，andhewenton。YousayI’venoreason？
　　Ihavetheverybest。Idislike，fromthebottomofmysoul，whatyouintendtodo。It’sdishonourable。it’sindelicate。it’sindecent。Yourcousinisnothingwhatevertome，andI’mundernoobligationtomakeconcessionstohim。I’vealreadymadetheveryhandsomest。Yourrelationswithhim，whilehewashere，keptmeonpinsandneedles。butIletthatpass，becausefromweektoweekI
　　expectedhimtogo。I’veneverlikedhimandhehasneverlikedme。
　　That’swhyyoulikehim-becausehehatesme，saidOsmondwithaquick，barelyaudibletremorinhisvoice。I’veanidealofwhatmywifeshoulddoandshouldnotdo。SheshouldnottravelacrossEuropealone，indefianceofmydeepestdesire，tositatthebedsideofothermen。Yourcousin’snothingtoyou。he’snothingtous。YousmilemostexpressivelywhenItalkaboutus，butIassureyouthatwe，Mrs。Osmond，isallIknow。Itakeourmarriageseriously。
　　youappeartohavefoundawayofnotdoingso。I’mnotawarethatwe’redivorcedorseparated。formewe’reindissolublyunited。Youarenearertomethananyhumancreature，andI’mnearertoyou。Itmaybeadisagreeableproximity。it’sone，atanyrate，ofourowndeliberatemaking。Youdon’tliketoberemindedofthat，Iknow。butI’mperfectlywilling，because-because-Andhepausedamoment，lookingasifhehadsomethingtosaywhichwouldbeverymuchtothepoint。
　　BecauseIthinkweshouldaccepttheconsequencesofouractions，andwhatIvaluemostinlifeisthehonourofathing！
　　Hespokegravelyandalmostgently。theaccentofsarcasmhaddroppedoutofhistone。Ithadagravitywhichcheckedhiswife’squickemotion。theresolutionwithwhichshehadenteredtheroomfounditselfcaughtinameshoffinethreads。Hislastwordswerenotcommand，theyconstitutedakindofappeal。and，thoughshefeltthatanyexpressionofrespectonhispartcouldonlybearefinementofegotism，theyrepresentedsomethingtranscendentandabsolute，likethesignofthecrossortheflagofone’scountry。
　　Hespokeinthenameofsomethingsacredandprecious-theobservanceofamagnificentform。Theywereasperfectlyapartinfeelingastwodisillusionedlovershadeverbeen。buttheyhadneveryetseparatedinact。Isabelhadnotchanged。heroldpassionforjusticestillabodewithinher。andnow，intheverythickofhersenseofherhusband’sblasphemoussophistry，itbegantothrobtoatunewhichforamomentpromisedhimthevictory。Itcameoverherthatinhiswishtopreserveappearanceshewasafterallsincere，andthatthis，asfarasitwent，wasamerit。Tenminutesbeforeshehadfeltallthejoyofirreflectiveaction-ajoytowhichshehadsolongbeenastranger。butactionhadbeensuddenlychangedtoslowrenunciation，transformedbytheblightofOsmond’stouch。Ifshemustrenounce，however，shewouldlethimknowshewasavictimratherthanadupe。Iknowyou’reamasteroftheartofmockery，shesaid。
　　Howcanyouspeakofanindissolubleunion-howcanyouspeakofyourbeingcontented？Where’sourunionwhenyouaccusemeoffalsity？
　　Where’syourcontentmentwhenyouhavenothingbuthideoussuspicioninyourheart？
　　Itisinourlivingdecentlytogether，inspiteofsuchdrawbacks。
　　Wedon’tlivedecentlytogether！criedIsabel。
　　Indeedwedon’tifyougotoEngland。
　　That’sverylittle。that’snothing。Imightdomuchmore。
　　Heraisedhiseyebrowsandevenhisshouldersalittle：hehadlivedlongenoughinItalytocatchthistrick。Ah，ifyou’vecometothreatenmeIprefermydrawing。Andhewalkedbacktohistable，wherehetookupthesheetofpaperonwhichhehadbeenworkingandstoodstudyingit。IsupposethatifIgoyou’llnotexpectmetocomeback，saidIsabel。
　　Heturnedquicklyaround，andshecouldseethismovementatleastwasnotdesigned。Helookedatheralittle，andthen，Areyououtofyourmind？heenquired。
　　Howcanitbeanythingbutarupture？shewenton。especiallyifallyousayistrue？Shewasunabletoseehowitcouldbeanythingbutarupture。shesincerelywishedtoknowwhatelseitmightbe。
　　Hesatdownbeforehistable。Ireallycan’targuewithyouonthehypothesisofyourdefyingme，hesaid。Andhetookuponeofhislittlebrushesagain。
　　Shelingeredbutamomentlonger。longenoughtoembracewithhereyehiswholedeliberatelyindifferentyetmostexpressivefigure。
　　afterwhichshequicklylefttheroom。Herfaculties，herenergy，herpassion，werealldispersedagain。shefeltasifacold，darkmisthadsuddenlyencompassedher。Osmondpossessedinasupremedegreetheartofelicitinganyweakness。OnherwaybacktoherroomshefoundtheCountessGeministandingintheopendoorwayofalittleparlourinwhichasmallcollectionofheterogeneousbookshadbeenarranged。TheCountesshadanopenvolumeinherhand。sheappearedtohavebeenglancingdownapagewhichfailedtostrikeherasinteresting。AtthesoundofIsabel’sstepsheraisedherhead。
　　Ahmydear，shesaid，you，whoaresoliterary，dotellmesomeamusingbooktoread！Everythinghere’sofadreariness-！Doyouthinkthiswoulddomeanygood？
　　Isabelglancedatthetitleofthevolumesheheldout，butwithoutreadingorunderstandingit。I’mafraidIcan’tadviseyou。
　　I’vehadbadnews。Mycousin，RalphTouchett，isdying。
　　TheCountessthrewdownherbook。Ah，hewassosimpatico。I’mawfullysorryforyou。
　　Youwouldbesorrierstillifyouknew。
　　Whatistheretoknow？Youlookverybadly，theCountessadded。
　　YoumusthavebeenwithOsmond。
　　HalfanhourbeforeIsabelwouldhavelistenedverycoldlytoanintimationthatsheshouldeverfeeladesireforthesympathyofhersister-in-law，andtherecanbenobetterproofofherpresentembarrassmentthanthefactthatshealmostclutchedatthislady’sflutteringattention。I’vebeenwithOsmond，shesaid，whiletheCountess’sbrighteyesglitteredather。
　　I’msurethenhehasbeenodious！theCountesscried。DidhesayhewasgladpoorMr。Touchett’sdying？
　　Hesaidit’simpossibleIshouldgotoEngland。
　　TheCountess’smind，whenherinterestswereconcerned，wasagile。
　　shealreadyforesawtheextinctionofanyfurtherbrightnessinhervisittoRome。RalphTouchettwoulddie，Isabelwouldgointomourning，andthentherewouldbenomoredinner-parties。Suchaprospectproducedforamomentinhercountenanceanexpressivegrimace。butthisrapid，picturesqueplayoffeaturewasheronlytributetodisappointment。Afterall，shereflected，thegamewasalmostplayedout。shehadalreadyoverstayedherinvitation。AndthenshecaredenoughforIsabel’stroubletoforgetherown，andshesawthatIsabel’stroublewasdeep。Itseemeddeeperthanthemeredeathofacousin，andtheCountesshadnohesitationinconnectingherexasperatingbrotherwiththeexpressionofhersister-in-law’seyes。Herheartbeatwithanalmostjoyousexpectation，forifshehadwishedtoseeOsmondovertoppedtheconditionslookedfavourablenow。OfcourseifIsabelshouldgotoEnglandsheherselfwouldimmediatelyleavePalazzoRoccanera。nothingwouldinducehertoremaintherewithOsmond。NeverthelessshefeltanimmensedesiretohearthatIsabelwouldgotoEngland。
　　Nothing’simpossibleforyou，mydear，shesaidcaressingly。
　　Whyelseareyourichandcleverandgood？
　　Whyindeed？Ifeelstupidlyweak。
　　WhydoesOsmondsayit’simpossible？theCountessaskedinatonewhichsufficientlydeclaredthatshecouldn’timagine。
　　Fromthemomentshethusbegantoquestionher，however，Isabeldrewback。shedisengagedherhand，whichtheCountesshadaffectionatelytaken。Butsheansweredthisenquirywithfrankbitterness。Becausewe’resohappytogetherthatwecan’tseparateevenforafortnight。
　　Ah，criedtheCountesswhileIsabelturnedaway，whenIwanttomakeajourneymyhusbandsimplytellsmeIcanhavenomoney！
　　Isabelwenttoherroom，whereshewalkedupanddownforanhour。
　　Itmayappeartosomereadersthatshegaveherselfmuchtrouble，anditiscertainthatforawomanofahighspiritshehadallowedherselfeasilytobearrested。Itseemedtoherthatonlynowshefullymeasuredthegreatundertakingofmatrimony。Marriagemeantthatinsuchacaseasthis，whenonehadtochoose，onechoseasamatterofcourseforone’shusband。I’mafraid-yes，I’mafraid，
　　shesaidtoherselfmorethanonce，stoppingshortinherwalk。Butwhatshewasafraidofwasnotherhusband-hisdispleasure，hishatred，hisrevenge。itwasnotevenherownlaterjudgementofherconduct-aconsiderationwhichhadoftenheldherincheck。itwassimplytheviolencetherewouldbeingoingwhenOsmondwishedhertoremain。Agulfofdifferencehadopenedbetweenthem，butneverthelessitwashisdesirethatsheshouldstay，itwasahorrortohimthatsheshouldgo。Sheknewthenervousfinenesswithwhichhecouldfeelanobjection。Whathethoughtofhersheknew，whathewascapableofsayingtohershehadfelt。yettheyweremarried，forallthat，andmarriagemeantthatawomanshouldcleavetothemanwithwhom，utteringtremendousvows，shehadstoodatthealtar。Shesankdownonhersofaatlastandburiedherheadinapileofcushions。
　　WhensheraisedherheadagaintheCountessGeminihoveredbeforeher。Shehadcomeinallunperceived。shehadastrangesmileonherthinlipsandherwholefacehadgrowninanhourashiningintimation。Shelivedassuredly，itmightbesaid，atthewindowofherspirit，butnowshewasleaningfarout。Iknocked，shebegan，butyoudidn’tanswerme。SoIventuredin。I’vebeenlookingatyouforthelastfiveminutes。You’reveryunhappy。
　　Yes。butIdon’tthinkyoucancomfortme。
　　Willyougivemeleavetotry？AndtheCountesssatdownonthesofabesideher。Shecontinuedtosmile，andtherewassomethingcommunicativeandexultantinherexpression。Sheappearedtohaveadealtosay，anditoccurredtoIsabelforthefirsttimethathersister-in-lawmightsaysomethingreallyhuman。Shemadeplaywithherglitteringeyes，inwhichtherewasanunpleasantfascination。
　　Afterall，shesoonresumed，Imusttellyou，tobeginwith，thatI
　　don’tunderstandyourstateofmind。Youseemtohavesomanyscruples，somanyreasons，somanyties。WhenIdiscovered，tenyearsago，thatmyhusband’sdearestwishwastomakememiserableoflatehehassimplyletmealone-ah，itwasawonderfulsimplification！MypoorIsabel，you’renotsimpleenough。
　　No，I’mnotsimpleenough，saidIsabel。
　　There’ssomethingIwantyoutoknow，theCountessdeclared-becauseIthinkyououghttoknowit。Perhapsyoudo。
　　perhapsyou’veguessedit。Butifyouhave，allIcansayisthatI
　　understandstilllesswhyyoushouldn’tdoasyoulike。
　　Whatdoyouwishmetoknow？Isabelfeltaforebodingthatmadeherheartbeatfaster。TheCountesswasabouttojustifyherself，andthisalonewasportentous。
　　Butshewasneverthelessdisposedtoplayalittlewithhersubject。
　　InyourplaceIshouldhaveguesseditagesago。Haveyouneverreallysuspected？
　　I’veguessednothing。WhatshouldIhavesuspected？Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。
　　That’sbecauseyou’vesuchabeastlypuremind。Ineversawawomanwithsuchapuremind！criedtheCountess。
　　Isabelslowlygotup。You’regoingtotellmesomethinghorrible。
　　Youcancallitbywhatevernameyouwill！AndtheCountessrosealso，whilehergatheredperversitygrewvividanddreadful。Shestoodamomentinasortofglareofintentionand，asseemedtoIsabeleventhen，ofugliness。afterwhichshesaid：Myfirstsister-in-lawhadnochildren。
　　Isabelstaredbackather。theannouncementwasananticlimax。Yourfirstsister-in-law？
　　Isupposeyouknowatleast，ifonemaymentionit，thatOsmondhasbeenmarriedbefore！I’veneverspokentoyouofhiswife。Ithoughtitmightn’tbedecentorrespectful。Butothers，lessparticular，musthavedoneso。Thepoorlittlewomanlivedhardlythreeyearsanddiedchildless。Itwasn’ttillafterherdeaththatPansyarrived。
　　Isabel’sbrowhadcontractedtoafrown。herlipswerepartedinpale，vaguewonder。Shewastryingtofollow。thereseemedsomuchmoretofollowthanshecouldsee。Pansy’snotmyhusband’schildthen？
　　Yourhusband’s-inperfection！Butnooneelse’shusband’s。Someoneelse’swife’s。Ah，mygoodIsabel，criedtheCountess，withyouonemustdotone’si’s！
　　Idon’tunderstand。Whosewife’s？Isabelasked。
　　ThewifeofahorridlittleSwisswhodied-howlong？-adozen，morethanfifteen，yearsago。HeneverrecognizedMissPansy，nor，knowingwhathewasabout，wouldhaveanythingtosaytoher。andtherewasnoreasonwhyheshould。Osmonddid，andthatwasbetter。
　　thoughhehadtofitonafterwardsthewholerigmaroleofhisownwife’shavingdiedinchildbirth，andofhishaving，ingriefandhorror，banishedthelittlegirlfromhissightforaslongaspossiblebeforetakingherhomefromnurse。Hiswifehadreallydied，youknow，ofquiteanothermatterandinquiteanotherplace：inthePiedmontesemountains，wheretheyhadgone，oneAugust，becauseherhealthappearedtorequiretheair，butwhereshewassuddenlytakenworse-fatallyill。Thestorypassed，sufficiently。itwascoveredbytheappearancessolongasnobodyheeded，asnobodycaredtolookintoit。ButofcourseIknew-withoutresearches，theCountesslucidlyproceeded。asalso，you’llunderstand，withoutawordsaidbetweenus-ImeanbetweenOsmondandme。Don’tyouseehimlookingatme，insilence，thatway，tosettleit？-thatistosettlemeifIshouldsayanything。Isaidnothing，rightorleft-neverawordtoacreature，ifyoucanbelievethatofme：onmyhonour，mydear，Ispeakofthethingtoyounow，afterallthistime，asI’venever，neverspoken。Itwastobeenoughforme，fromthefirst，thatthechildwasmyniece-fromthemomentshewasmybrother’sdaughter。Asforherveritablemother-！ButwiththisPansy’swonderfulauntdroppedinvoluntarily，fromtheimpressionofhersister-in-law’sface，outofwhichmoreeyesmighthaveseemedtolookatherthanshehadeverhadtomeet。
　　Shehadspokennoname，yetIsabelcouldbutcheck，onherownlips，anechooftheunspoken。Shesanktoherseatagain，hangingherhead。
　　Whyhaveyoutoldmethis？sheaskedinavoicetheCountesshardlyrecognized。
　　BecauseI’vebeensoboredwithyournotknowing。I’vebeenbored，frankly，mydear，withnothavingtoldyou。asif，stupidly，allthistimeIcouldn’thavemanaged！Camedepasse，ifyoudon’tmindmysayingso，thethings，allroundyou，thatyou’veappearedtosucceedinnotknowing。It’sasortofassistance-aidtoinnocentignorance-thatI’vealwaysbeenabadhandatrendering。andinthisconnexion，thatofkeepingquietformybrother，myvirtuehasatanyratefinallyfounditselfexhausted。It’snotablacklie，moreover，youknow，theCountessinimitablyadded。ThefactsareexactlywhatItellyou。
　　Ihadnoidea，saidIsabelpresently。andlookedupatherinamannerthatdoubtlessmatchedtheapparentwitlessnessofthisconfession。
　　SoIbelieved-thoughitwashardtobelieve。Haditneveroccurredtoyouthathewasforsixorsevenyearsherlover？
　　Idon’tknow。Thingshaveoccurredtome，andperhapsthatwaswhattheyallmeant。
　　Shehasbeenwonderfullyclever，shehasbeenmagnificent，aboutPansy！theCountess，beforeallthisviewofit，cried。
　　Oh，noidea，forme，Isabelwenton，everdefinitelytookthatform。Sheappearedtobemakingouttoherselfwhathadbeenandwhathadn’t。Andasitis-Idon’tunderstand。
　　Shespokeasonetroubledandpuzzled，yetthepoorCountessseemedtohaveseenherrevelationfallbelowitspossibilitiesofeffect。Shehadexpectedtokindlesomeresponsiveblaze，buthadbarelyextractedaspark。
　　Isabelshowedasscarcemoreimpressedthanshemighthavebeen，asayoungwomanofapprovedimagination，withsomefinesinisterpassageofpublichistory。Don’tyourecognizehowthechildcouldneverpassforherhusband’s？-thatiswithM。Merlehimself，hercompanionresumed。Theyhadbeenseparatedtoolongforthat，andhehadgonetosomefarcountry-IthinktoSouthAmerica。Ifshehadeverhadchildren-whichI’mnotsureof-shehadlostthem。Theconditionshappenedtomakeitworkable，understressImeanatsoawkwardapinch，thatOsmondshouldacknowledgethelittlegirl。
　　Hiswifewasdead-verytrue。butshehadnotbeendeadtoolongtoputacertainaccommodationofdatesoutofthequestion-fromthemoment，Imean，thatsuspicionwasn’tstarted。whichwaswhattheyhadtotakecareof。WhatwasmorenaturalthanthatpoorMrs。Osmond，atadistanceandforaworldnottroublingabouttrifles，shouldhaveleftbehindher，poverina，thepledgeofherbriefhappinessthathadcostherlife？Withtheaidofachangeofresidence-OsmondhadbeenlivingwithheratNaplesatthetimeoftheirstayintheAlps，andheinduecourseleftitforever-thewholehistorywassuccessfullysetgoing。Mypoorsister-in-law，inhergrave，couldn’thelpherself，andtherealmother，tosaveherskin，renouncedallvisiblepropertyinthechild。
　　Ah，poor，poorwoman！criedIsabel，whoherewithburstintotears。
　　Itwasalongtimesinceshehadshedany。shehadsufferedahighreactionfromweeping。ButnowtheyflowedwithanabundanceinwhichtheCountessGeminifoundonlyanotherdiscomfiture。
　　It’sverykindofyoutopityher！shediscordantlylaughed。
　　Yesindeed，youhaveawayofyourown-！
　　Hemusthavebeenfalsetohiswife-andsoverysoon！saidIsabelwithasuddencheck。
　　That’sallthat’swanting-thatyoushouldtakeuphercause！theCountesswenton。Iquiteagreewithyou，however，thatitwasmuchtoosoon。Buttome，tome-？AndIsabelhesitatedasifshehadnotheard。asifherquestion-thoughitwassufficientlythereinhereyes-wereallforherself。
　　Toyouhehasbeenfaithful？Well，itdepends，mydear，onwhatyoucallfaithful。Whenhemarriedyouhewasnolongertheloverofanotherwoman-suchaloverashehadbeen，caramia，betweentheirrisksandtheirprecautions，whilethethinglasted！Thatstateofaffairshadpassedaway。theladyhadrepented，oratallevents，forreasonsofherown，drawnback：shehadalwayshad，too，aworshipofappearancessointensethatevenOsmondhimselfhadgotboredwithit。Youmaythereforeimaginewhatitwas-whenhecouldn’tpatchitonconvenientlytoanyofthosehegoesinfor！Butthewholepastwasbetweenthem。
　　Yes，Isabelmechanicallyechoed，thewholepastisbetweenthem。
　　Ah，thislaterpastisnothing。Butforsixorsevenyears，asI
　　say，theyhadkeptitup。
　　Shewassilentalittle。Whythendidshewanthimtomarryme？
　　Ahmydear，that’shersuperiority！Becauseyouhadmoney。andbecauseshebelievedyouwouldbegoodtoPansy。
　　Poorwoman-andPansywhodoesn’tlikeher！criedIsabel。
　　That’sthereasonshewantedsomeonewhomPansywouldlike。Sheknowsit。sheknowseverything。
　　Willsheknowthatyou’vetoldmethis？
　　Thatwilldependuponwhetheryoutellher。She’spreparedforit，anddoyouknowwhatshecountsuponforherdefence？OnyourbelievingthatIlie。Perhapsyoudo。don’tmakeyourselfuncomfortabletohideit。Only，asithappensthistime，Idon’t。I’vetoldplentyoflittleidioticfibs，butthey’veneverhurtanyonebutmyself。
　　Isabelsatstaringathercompanion’sstoryasatabaleoffantasticwaressomestrollinggypsymighthaveunpackedonthecarpetatherfeet。WhydidOsmondnevermarryher？shefinallyasked。
　　Becauseshehadnomoney。TheCountesshadananswerforeverything，andifsheliedsheliedwell。Nooneknows，noonehaseverknown，whatsheliveson，orhowshehasgotallthosebeautifulthings。Idon’tbelieveOsmondhimselfknows。Besides，shewouldn’thavemarriedhim。
　　Howcanshehavelovedhimthen？
　　Shedoesn’tlovehiminthatway。Shedidatfirst，andthen，I
　　suppose，shewouldhavemarriedhim。butatthattimeherhusbandwasliving。BythetimeM。Merlehadrejoined-Iwon’tsayhisancestors，becauseheneverhadany-herrelationswithOsmondhadchanged，andshehadgrownmoreambitious。Besides，shehasneverhad，abouthim，theCountesswenton，leavingIsabeltowinceforitsotragicallyafterwards-shehadneverhad，whatyoumightcallanyillusionsofintelligence。Shehopedshemightmarryagreatman。thathasalwaysbeenheridea。Shehaswaitedandwatchedandplottedandprayed。butshehasneversucceeded。Idon’tcallMadameMerleasuccess，youknow。Idon’tknowwhatshemayaccomplishyet，butatpresentshehasverylittletoshow。Theonlytangibleresultshehaseverachieved-except，ofcourse，gettingtoknoweveryoneandstayingwiththemfreeofexpense-hasbeenherbringingyouandOsmondtogether。Oh，shedidthat，mydear。youneedn’tlookasifyoudoubtedit。I’vewatchedthemforyears。Iknoweverything-everything。
　　I’mthoughtagreatscatterbrain，butI’vehadenoughapplicationofmindtofollowupthosetwo。Shehatesme，andherwayofshowingitistopretendtobeforeverdefendingme。WhenpeoplesayI’vehadfifteenloversshelookshorrifiedanddeclaresthatquitehalfofthemwereneverproved。Shehasbeenafraidofmeforyears，andshehastakengreatcomfortinthevile，falsethingspeoplehavesaidaboutme。ShehasbeenafraidI’dexposeher，andshethreatenedmeonedaywhenOsmondbegantopayhiscourttoyou。ItwasathishouseinFlorence。doyourememberthatafternoonwhenshebroughtyouthereandwehadteainthegarden？SheletmeknowthenthatifIshouldtelltalestwocouldplayatthatgame。Shepretendsthere’sagooddealmoretotellaboutmethanabouther。Itwouldbeaninterestingcomparison！Idon’tcareafigaboutwhatshemaysay，simplybecauseIknowyoudon’tcareafig。Youcan’ttroubleyourheadaboutmelessthanyoudoalready。Soshemaytakeherrevengeasshechooses。Idon’tthinkshe’llfrightenyouverymuch。Hergreatideahasbeentobetremendouslyirreproachable-akindoffull-blownlily-theincarnationofpropriety。Shehasalwaysworshippedthatgod。
　　ThereshouldbenoscandalaboutCaesar’swife，youknow。and，asI
　　say，shehasalwayshopedtomarryCaesar。Thatwasonereasonshewouldn’tmarryOsmond。thefearthatonseeingherwithPansypeoplewouldputthingstogether-wouldevenseearesemblance。Shehashadaterrorlestthemothershouldbetrayherself。Shehasbeenawfullycareful。themotherhasneverdoneso。
　　Yes，yes，themotherhasdoneso，saidIsabel，whohadlistenedtoallthiswithafacemoreandmorewan。Shebetrayedherselftometheotherday，thoughIdidn’trecognizeher。ThereappearedtohavebeenachanceofPansy’smakingagreatmarriage，andinherdisappointmentatitsnotcomingoffshealmostdroppedthemask。
　　Ah，that’swhereshe’ddishherself！criedtheCountess。Shehasfailedsodreadfullythatshe’sdeterminedherdaughtershallmakeitup。
　　Isabelstartedatthewordsherdaughter，whichherguestthrewoffsofamiliarly。Itseemsverywonderful，shemurmured。andinthisbewilderingimpressionshehadalmostlosthersenseofbeingpersonallytouchedbythestory。
　　Nowdon’tgoandturnagainstthepoorinnocentchild！theCountesswenton。She’sverynice，inspiteofherdeplorableorigin。
　　ImyselfhavelikedPansy。not，naturally，becauseshewashers，butbecauseshehadbecomeyours。
　　Yes，shehasbecomemine。Andhowthepoorwomanmusthavesufferedatseeingme-！Isabelexclaimedwhilesheflushedatthethought。
　　Idon’tbelieveshehassuffered。onthecontrary，shehasenjoyed。
　　Osmond’smarriagehasgivenhisdaughteragreatlittlelift。Beforethatshelivedinahole。Anddoyouknowwhatthemotherthought？
　　Thatyoumighttakesuchafancytothechildthatyou’ddosomethingforher。Osmondofcoursecouldnevergiveheraportion。
　　Osmondwasreallyextremelypoor。butofcourseyouknowallaboutthat。Ah，mydear，criedtheCountess，whydidyoueverinheritmoney？ShestoppedamomentasifshesawsomethingsingularinIsabel’sface。Don’ttellmenowthatyou’llgiveheradot。You’recapableofthat，butIwouldrefusetobelieveit。Don’ttrytobetoogood。Bealittleeasyandnaturalandnasty。feelalittlewicked，forthecomfortofit，onceinyourlife！
　　It’sverystrange。IsupposeIoughttoknow，butI’msorry，
　　Isabelsaid。I’mmuchobligedtoyou。
　　Yes，youseemtobe！criedtheCountesswithamockinglaugh。
　　Perhapsyouare-perhapsyou’renot。Youdon’ttakeitasIshouldhavethought。
　　HowshouldItakeit？Isabelasked。
　　Well，IshouldsayasawomanwhohasbeenmadeuseofIsabelmadenoanswertothis。sheonlylistened，andtheCountesswenton。
　　They’vealwaysbeenboundtoeachother。theyremainedsoevenaftershebrokeoff-orhedid。Buthehasalwaysbeenmoreforherthanshehasbeenforhim。Whentheirlittlecarnivalwasovertheymadeabargainthateachshouldgivetheothercompleteliberty，butthateachshouldalsodoeverythingpossibletohelptheotheron。YoumayaskmehowIknowsuchathingasthat。Iknowitbythewaythey’vebehaved。Nowseehowmuchbetterwomenarethanmen！ShehasfoundawifeforOsmond，butOsmondhasneverliftedalittlefingerforher。Shehasworkedforhim，plottedforhim，sufferedforhim。
　　shehasevenmorethanoncefoundmoneyforhim。andtheendofitisthathe’stiredofher。She’sanoldhabit。therearemomentswhenheneedsher，butonthewholehewouldn’tmissherifshewereremoved。And，what’smore，to-daysheknowsit。Soyouneedn’tbejealous！theCountessaddedhumorously。
　　Isabelrosefromhersofaagain。shefeltbruisedandscantofbreath。herheadwashummingwithnewknowledge。I’mmuchobligedtoyou，sherepeated。Andthensheaddedabruptly，inquiteadifferenttone：Howdoyouknowallthis？
　　ThisenquiryappearedtoruffletheCountessmorethanIsabel’sexpressionofgratitudepleasedher。Shegavehercompanionaboldstare，withwhich，LetusassumethatI’veinventedit！shecried。
　　Shetoo，however，suddenlychangedhertoneand，layingherhandonIsabel’sarm，saidwiththepenetrationofhersharpbrightsmile：
　　Nowwillyougiveupyourjourney？
　　Isabelstartedalittle。sheturnedaway。Butshefeltweakandinamomenthadtolayherarmuponthemantel-shelfforsupport。Shestoodaminuteso，andthenuponherarmshedroppedherdizzyhead，withclosedeyesandpalelips。
　　I’vedonewrongtospeak-I’vemadeyouill！theCountesscried。
　　Ah，ImustseeRalph！Isabelwailed。notinresentment，notinthequickpassionhercompanionhadlookedfor。butinatoneoffar-reaching，infinitesadness。