THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 169 ehe spoke one day of going to Sweden to stay with an old friend, and another of going to Wallachia to follow up a new acquaint- ance. "With England, where she had often stayed, she was thoroughly familiar ; and for Isabel's benefit threw a great deal of light upon the customs of the country and the character of the people, who " after all," as she was fond of saying, were the finest people in the world. " You must not think it strange, her staying in the house at such a time as this, when Mr. Touchett is passing away," Mrs. Touchett remarked to Isabel. " She is incapable of doing anything indiscreet ; she is the best-bred woman I know. It's a favour to me that she stays ; she is putting off a lot of visits at great houses," said Mrs. Touchett, who never forgot that when she herself was in England her social value sank two or three degrees in the scale. " She has her pick of places ; she is not in want of a shelter. But I have asked hereto stay because I wish you to know her. I think it will be a good thing for you. Serena Merle has no faults/' " If I didn't already like her very much that description might alarm me," Isabel said. " She never does anything wrong. I have brought you out here, and I wish to do the best for you. Your sister Lily told me that she hoped I would give you plenty of opportunities. I give you one in securing Madame Merle. She is one of the most brilliant women in Europe." " I like her better than I like your description of her," Isabel persisted in saying. "Do you flatter yourself that you will find a fault in her ? I hope you will let me know when you do." " That will be cruel to you," said Isabel. " You needn't mind me. You never will find one." " Perhaps not ; but I think I shall not miss it " " She is always up to the mark ! " said Mrs. Touchett. Isabel after this said to Madame Merle that she hoped she knew Mrs. Touchett believed she had not a fault. " I am obliged to you, but I am afraid your aunt has no per- ception of spiritual things," Madame Merle answered. " Do you mean by that that you have spiritual faults 1 " " Ah no ; I mean nothing so flat 1 I mean that having no faults, for your aunt, means that one is never late for dinner that is, for her dinner. I was not late, by the way, the other day, when you came back from London ; the clock was just at eight when I came into the drawing-room; it was the rest of you that were before the time. It means that one answers a
