294 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. " Devoted, of course ; she wished you to marry her candi- date. She told me that 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 1 She knows me better. Am I pleased to-day 1 " " I don't think you are ever much pleased," Isabel was obliged to reply. " If Madame Merle knew you would learn the truth, what had she to gain by insincerity 1 " " She gained time, as you see. While I waited for her to interfere you were marching away, and she was really beating the drum." " That is very well. But by your own admission you saw I was marching, and even if she had given the alarm you would not have tried to stop me." " No, but some one else would." " Whom do you mean 1 " Isabel asked, looking very hard at her aunt. Mrs. Touchett's little bright eyes, active as they usually were, sustained her gaze rather than returned it. " Would you have listened to Ealph 1 " " JN"ot if he had abused Mr. Osmond." " Ealph doesn't 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," said Isabel, smiling. " You don't accuse him of having deceived you why should you accuse Madame Merle ? " " He never pretended he would prevent it." "I am glad of that!" cried the girl, gaily. "I wish very much," she presently added, " that when he comes you would tell him first of my engagement." " Of course I will mention it," said Mrs. Touchett. " I will say nothing more to you about it, but I give you notice I will talk to others." " That's as you please. I only meant that it is rather tetter the announcement should come from you than from me." " I quite agree with you ; it is much more proper ! " And on this the two ladies went to breakfast, where Mrs. Tpuchett was as good as her word, and made no allusion to
