310 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. was perhaps not the less pleased when he told her a few days later that he had broken the news to his daughter, who made such a pretty little speech. " Oh, then I shall have a sister ! " She was neither surprised nor alarmed ; she had not cried, as he expected. " Perhaps she had guessed it," said Isabel. " Don't say that ; 1 should be disgusted if I believed that. I thought it would be just a little shock ; but the way she took it proves that her good manners are paramount. That is also what I wished. You shall see for yourself; to-morrow she shall make you her congratulations in person." The meeting, on the morrow, took place at the Countess Gemini's, whither Pansy had been conducted by her father, who knew that Isabel was to come in the afternoon to return a visit made her by the Countess on learning that they were to become sister-in-law. Calling at Casa Touchett, the visitor had not found Isabel at home ; but after our young lady had been ushered into the Countess's drawing-room, Pansy came in to say that her aunt would presently appear. Pansy was spending the day with her aunt, who thought she was of an age when she should begin to learn how to carry herself in company. It was Isabel's view that the little girl might have given lessons in deportment to the elder lady, and nothing could have justified this conviction more than the manner in which Pansy acquitted herself while they waited together for the Countess. Her father's decision, the year before, had finally been to send her back to the convent to receive the last graces, and Madame Catherine had evidently carried out her theory that Pansy was to be fitted for the great world. " Papa has told me that you have kindly consented to marry him," said the good woman's pupil. "It is very delightful; I think you will suit very well." " You think I shall suit you ? " " You will suit me beautifully; but what I mean is that you and papa will suit each other. You are both so quiet and so serious. You are not so quiet as he or even as Madame Merle ; but you are more quiet than many others. He should not, for instance, have a wife like my aunt. She is always moving ; to-day especially; you will see when she comes in. They told us at the convent it was wrong to judge our elders, but
- I suppose there is no harm if we judge them favourably. You
will be a delightful companion for papa." " For you too, I hope," Isabel said. " I speak fiwfc of him on purpose. I have told you already
