THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 291 " If yon wish me to repeat it by word of mouth, that is soon done. There is no mistake at all." " I saw that as soon as I came into the room." " What good would it do yon that I shouldn't marry 1 " Isabel asked, with a certain fierceness. " I should like it better than this." " You are very selfish, as I said before." " I know that. I am selfish as iron." " Even iron sometimes melts. If you will be reasonable I will see you again." " Don't you call me reasonable now 1 " " I don't know what to say to you," she answered, with sudden humility. " I sha'n't trouble you for a long time," the young man went on. He made a step towards the door, but he stopped. " An- other reason why I came was that I wanted to hear what you would say in explanation of your having changed your mind." Isabel's humbleness as suddenly deserted her. " In explanation ? Do you think I am bound to explain 1 " Caspar gave her one of his long dumb looks. " You were very positive. I did believe it." " So did I. Do you think I could explain if I would 1 " " No, I suppose not. Well," he added, " I have done what I wished. I have seen you." "How little you make of these terrible journeys," Isabel murmured. " If you are afraid I am tired, you may be at your ease about that." He turned away, this time in earnest, and no hand- shake, no sign of parting, was exchanged between them. At the door he stopped, with his hand on the knob. " I shall leave Florence to-morrow," he said. " I am delighted, to hear it ! " she answered, passionately. And he went out. Five minutes after he had go.ne she burst into tears. XXXIII. HER fit of weeping, however, was of brief duration, and the signs of it had vanished when, an hour later, she broke the news to her aunt. I use this expression because she had been sure Mrs. Touchett would not be pleased ; Isabel had only waited to tell her till she had seen Mr. Goodwood. She had an odd impression that it would not be honourable to make the fact U 2
