Mrs. Touchett gave a little jump and looked at her almost fiercely. You neednt tell me; I know what it is.
I dont know how you know.
The same way that I know when the windows openby feeling a draught. Youre going to marry that man.
What man do you mean? Isabel enquired with great dignity.
Madame Merles friendMr. Osmond.
I dont know why you call him Madame Merles friend. Is that the principal thing hes known by?
If hes not her friend he ought to beafter what she has done for him! cried Mrs. Touchett. I shouldnt have expected it of her; Im disappointed.
If you mean that Madame Merle has had anything to do with my engagement youre greatly mistaken, Isabel declared with a sort of ardent coldness.
You mean that your attractions were sufficient, without the gentlemans having had to be lashed up? Youre quite right. Theyre immense, your attractions, and he would never have presumed to think of you if she hadnt put him up to it. He has a very good opinion of himself, but he was not a man to take trouble. Madame Merle took the trouble for him.
He has taken a great deal for himself! cried Isabel with a voluntary laugh.
Mrs. Touchett gave a sharp nod. I think he must, after all, to have made you like him so much.
I thought he even pleased you.
He did, at one time; and thats why Im angry with him.
Be angry with me, not with him, said the girl.
Oh, Im always angry with you; thats no satisfaction! Was it for this that you refused Lord Warburton?
Please dont go back to that. Why shouldnt I like Mr. Osmond, since others have done so?
Others, at their wildest moments, never wanted to marry him. Theres nothing of him, Mrs. Touchett explained.
Then he cant hurt me, said Isabel.
Do you think youre going to be happy? No ones happy, in such doings, you should know.
I shall set the fashion then. What does one marry for?
What you will marry for, heaven only knows. People usually marry as they go into partnershipto set up a house. But in your partnership youll bring everything.
Is it that Mr. Osmond isnt rich? Is that what youre talking about? Isabel asked.
He has no money; he has no name; he has no importance. I value such things and I have the courage to say it; I think theyre very precious. Many other people think the same, and they show it. But they give some other reason.
Isabel hesitated a little. I think I value everything thats valuable. I care very much for money, and thats why I wish Mr. Osmond to have a little.
Give it to him then; but marry some one else.
His names good enough for me, the girl went on. Its a very pretty name. Have I such a fine one myself?
All the more reason you should improve on it. There are only a dozen American names. Do you marry him out of charity?
It was my duty to tell you, Aunt Lydia, but I dont think its my duty to explain to you. Even if it were I shouldnt be able. So please dont remonstrate; in talking about it you have me at a disadvantage. I cant talk about it.
I dont remonstrate, I simply answer you: I must give some sign of intelligence. I saw it coming, and I said nothing. I never meddle.
You never do, and Im greatly obliged to you. Youve been very considerate.
It was not considerateit was convenient, said Mrs. Touchett. But I shall talk to Madame Merle.
I dont see why you keep bringing her in. She has been a very good friend to me.
Possibly; but she has been a poor one to me.
What has she done to you?
She has deceived me. She had as good as promised me to prevent your engagement.
She couldnt have prevented it.
She can do anything; thats what Ive always liked her for. I knew she could play any part; but I understood that she played them one by one. I didnt understand that she would play two at the same time.
I dont know what part she may have played to you, Isabel said; thats between yourselves. To me she has been honest and kind and devoted.
Devoted, of course; she wished you to marry her candidate. She told me she was watching you only in order to interpose.
She said that to please you, the girl answered; conscious, however, of the inadequacy of the explanation.
To please me by deceiving me? She knows me better. Am I pleased to-day?
I dont think youre ever much pleased, Isabel was obliged to reply. If Madame Merle knew you would learn the truth what had she to gain by insincerity?
She gained time, as you see. While I waited for her to interfere you were marching away, and she was really beating the drum.
Thats very well. But by your own admission you saw I was marching, and even if she had given the alarm you wouldnt have tried to stop me.
No, but some one else would.
Whom do you mean? Isabel asked, looking very hard at her aunt. Mrs. Touchetts little bright eyes, active as they usually were, sustained her gaze rather than returned it. Would you have listened to Ralph?
Not if he had abused Mr. Osmond.
Ralph doesnt abuse people; you know that perfectly. He cares very much for you.
I know he does, said Isabel; and I shall feel the value of it now, for he knows that whatever I do I do with reason.
He never believed you would do this. I told him you were capable of it, and he argued the other way.
He did it for the sake of argument, the girl smiled. You dont accuse him of having deceived you; why should you accuse Madame Merle?
He never pretended hed prevent it.
Im glad of that! cried Isabel gaily. I wish very much, she presently added, that when he comes youd tell him first of my engagement.
Of course Ill mention it, said Mrs. Touchett. I shall say nothing more to you about it, but I give you notice I shall talk to others.
Thats as you please. I only meant that its rather better the announcement should come from you than from me.
I quite agree with you; its much more proper! And on this the aunt and the niece went to breakfast, where Mrs. Touchett, as good as her word, made no allusion to Gilbert Osmond. After an interval of silence, however, she asked her companion from whom she had received a visit an hour before.
From an old friendan American gentleman, Isabel said with a colour in her cheek.
An American gentleman of course. Its only an American gentleman who calls at ten oclock in the morning.
It was half-past ten; he was in a great hurry; he goes away this evening.
Couldnt he have come yesterday, at the usual time?
He only arrived last night.
He spends but twenty-four hours in Florence? Mrs. Touchett cried. Hes an American gentleman truly.
He is indeed, said Isabel, thinking with perverse admiration of what Caspar Goodwood had done for her.