before, that here, in recognisable, if not in romantic form, was the most affecting thing in the第 290 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网world--young love struggling with adversity. "Would you really be very kind to her?" she finallyasked in a low tone.He dropped his eyes devoutly and raised the little flower that he held in his fingers to his lips. Thenhe looked at her. "You pity me; but don't you pity HER a little?""I don't know; I'm not sure. She'll always enjoy life.""It will depend on what you call life!" Mr. Rosier effectively said. "She won't enjoy beingtortured.""There'll be nothing of that.""I'm glad to hear it. She knows what she's about. You'll see.""I think she does, and she'll never disobey her father. But she's coming back to me," Isabel added,"and I must beg you to go away."Rosier lingered a moment till Pansy came in sight on the arm of her cavalier; he stood just longenough to look her in the face. Then he walked away, holding up his head; and the manner inwhich he achieved this sacrifice to expediency convinced Isabel he was very much in love.Pansy, who seldom got disarranged in dancing, looking perfectly fresh and cool after this exercise,waited a moment and then took back her bouquet. Isabel watched her and saw she was countingthe flowers; whereupon she said to herself that decidedly there were deeper forces at play than shehad recognised. Pansy had seen Rosier turn away, but she said nothing to Isabel about him; shetalked only of her partner, after he had made his bow and retired; of the music, the floor, the raremisfortune of having already torn her dress. Isabel was sure, however, she had discovered herlover to have abstracted a flower; though this knowledge was not needed to account for the dutifulgrace with which she responded to the appeal of her next partner. That perfect amenity under acuteconstraint was part of a larger system. She was again led forth by a flushed young man, this timecarrying her bouquet; and she had not been absent many minutes when Isabel saw Lord Warburtonadvancing through the crowd. He presently drew near and bade her good-evening; she had not seenhim since the day before. He looked about him, and then "Where's the little maid?" he asked. Itwas in this manner that he had formed the harmless habit of alluding to Miss Osmond."She's dancing," said Isabel. "You'll see her somewhere."He looked among the dancers and at last caught Pansy's eye. "She sees me, but she won't noticeme," he then remarked. "Are you not dancing?""As you see, I'm a wall-flower.""Won't you dance with me?""Thank you; I'd rather you should dance with the little maid.""One needn't prevent the other--especially as she's engaged.""She's not engaged for everything, and you can reserve yourself. She dances very hard, and you'llbe the fresher.""She dances beautifully," said Lord Warburton, following her with his eyes. "Ah, at last," headded, "she has given me a smile." He stood there with his handsome, easy, importantphysiognomy; and as Isabel observed him it came over her, as it had done before, that it was第 291 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网strange a man of his mettle should take an interest in a little maid. It struck her as a greatincongruity; neither Pansy's small fascinations, nor his own kindness, his good-nature, not even hisneed for amusement, which was extreme and constant, were sufficient to account for it. "I shouldlike to dance with you," he went on in a moment, turning back to Isabel; "but I think I like evenbetter to talk with you.""Yes, it's better, and it's more worthy of your dignity. Great statesmen oughtn't to waltz.""Don't be cruel. Why did you recommend me then to dance with Miss Osmond?""Ah, that's different. If you danced with her it would look simply like a piece of kindness--as ifyou were doing it for her amusement. If you dance with me you'll look as if you were doing it foryour own.""And pray haven't I a right to amuse myself?""No, not with the affairs of the British Empire on your hands.""The British Empire be hanged! You're always laughing at it.""Amuse yourself with talking to me," said Isabel."I'm not sure it's really a recreation. You're too pointed; I've always to be defending myself. Andyou strike me as more than usually dangerous to-night. Will you absolutely not dance?""I can't leave my place. Pansy must find me here."He was silent a little. "You're wonderfully good to her," he said suddenly.Isabel stared a little and smiled. "Can you imagine one's not being?""No indeed. I know how one is charmed with her. But you must have done a great deal for her.""I've taken her out with me," said Isabel, smiling still. "And I've seen that she has proper clothes.""Your society must have been a great benefit to her. You've talked to her, advised her, helped herto develop.""Ah yes, if she isn't the rose she has lived near it."She laughed, and her companion did as much; but there was a certain visible preoccupation in hisface which interfered with complete hilarity. "We all try to live as near it as we can," he said after amoment's hesitation.Isabel turned away; Pansy was about to be restored to her, and she welcomed the diversion. Weknow how much she liked Lord Warburton; she thought him pleasanter even than the sum of hismerits warranted; there was something in his friendship that appeared a kind of resource in case ofindefinite need; it was like having a large balance at the bank. She felt happier when he was in theroom; there was something reassuring in his approach; the sound of his voice reminded her of thebeneficence of nature. Yet for all that it didn't suit her that he should be too near her, that he shouldtake too much of her good-will for granted. She was afraid of that; she averted herself from it; shewished he wouldn't. She felt that if he should come too near, as it were, it might be in her to flashout and bid him keep his distance. Pansy came back to Isabel with another rent in her skirt, whichwas the inevitable consequence of the first and which she displayed to Isabel with serious eyes.There were too many gentlemen in uniform; they wore those dreadful spurs, which were fatal tothe dresses of little maids. It hereupon became apparent that the resources of women are第 292 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网innumerable. Isabel devoted herself to Pansy's desecrated drapery; she fumbled for a pin andrepaired the injury; she smiled and listened to her account of her adventures. Her attention, hersympathy were immediate and active; and they were in direct proportion to a sentiment with whichthey were in no way connected--a lively conjecture as to whether Lord Warburton might be tryingto make love to her. It was not simply his words just then; it was others as well; it was thereference and the continuity. This was what she thought about while she pinned up Pansy's dress.If it were so, as she feared, he was of course unwitting; he himself had not taken account of hisintention. But this made it none the more auspicious, made the situation none less impossible. Thesooner he should get back into right relations with things the better. He immediately began to talkto Pansy--on whom it was certainly mystifying to see that he dropped a smile of chasteneddevotion. Pansy replied, as usual, with a little air of conscientious aspiration; he had to bendtoward her a good deal in conversation, and her eyes, as usual, wandered up and down his robustperson as if he had offered it to her for exhibition. She always seemed a little frightened; yet herfright was not of the painful character that suggests dislike; on the contrary, she looked as if sheknew that he knew she liked him. Isabel left them together a little and wandered toward a friendwhom she saw near and with whom she talked till the music of the following dance began, forwhich she knew Pansy to be also engaged. The girl joined her presently, with a little flutteredflush, and Isabel, who scrupulously took Osmond's view of his daughter's complete dependence,consigned her, as a precious and momentary loan, to her appointed partner. About all this mattershe had her own imaginations, her own reserves; there were moments when Pansy's extremeadhesiveness made each of them, to her sense, look foolish. But Osmond had given her a sort oftableau of her position as his daughter's duenna, which consisted of gracious alternations ofconcession and contraction; and there were directions of his which she liked to think she obeyed tothe letter. Perhaps, as regards some of them, it was because her doing so appeared to reduce themto the absurd.After Pansy had been led away, she found Lord Warburton drawing near her again. She rested hereyes on him steadily; she wished she could sound his thoughts. But he had no appearance ofconfusion. "She has promised to dance with me later," he said."I'm glad of that. I suppose you've engaged her for the cotillion."At this he looked a little awkward. "No, I didn't ask her for that. It's a quadrille.""Ah, you're not clever!" said Isabel almost angrily. "I told her to keep the cotillion in case youshould ask for it.""Poor little maid, fancy that!" And Lord Warburton laughed frankly. "Of course I will if you like.""If I like? Oh, if you dance with her only because I like it--!""I'm afraid I bore her. She seems to have a lot of young fellows on her book."Isabel dropped her eyes, reflecting rapidly; Lord Warburton stood there looking at her and she felthis eyes on her face. She felt much inclined to ask him to remove them. She didn't do so, however;she only said to him, after a minute, with her own raised: "Please let me understand.""Understand what?""You told me ten days ago that you'd like to marry my stepdaughter. You've not forgotten it!"第 293 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Forgotten it? I wrote to Mr. Osmond about it this morning.""Ah," said Isabel, "he didn't mention to me that he had heard from you."Lord Warburton stammered a little. "I--I didn't send my letter.""Perhaps you forgot THAT.""No, I wasn't satisfied with it. It's an awkward sort of letter to write, you know. But I shall send itto-night.""At three o'clock in the morning?""I mean later, in the course of the day.""Very good. You still wish then to marry her?""Very much indeed.""Aren't you afraid that you'll bore her?" And as her companion stared at this enquiry Isabel added:"If she can't dance with you for half an hour how will she be able to dance with you for life?""Ah," said Lord Warburton readily, "I'll let her dance with other people! About the cotillion, thefact is I thought that you-- that you--""That I would do it with you? I told you I'd do nothing.""Exactly; so that while it's going on I might find some quiet corner where we may sit down andtalk.""Oh," said Isabel gravely, "you're much too considerate of me."When the cotillion came Pansy was found to have engaged herself, thinking, in perfect humility,that Lord Warburton had no intentions. Isabel recommended him to seek another partner, but heassured her that he would dance with no one but herself. As, however, she had, in spite of theremonstrances of her hostess, declined other invitations on the ground that she was not dancing atall, it was not possible for her to make an exception in Lord Warburton's favour."After all I don't care to dance," he said; "it's a barbarous amusement: I'd much rather talk." And heintimated that he had discovered exactly the corner he had been looking for--a quiet nook in one ofthe smaller rooms, where the music would come to them faintly and not interfere withconversation. Isabel had decided to let him carry out his idea; she wished to be satisfied. Shewandered away from the ball-room with him, though she knew her husband desired she should notlose sight of his daughter. It was with his daughter's pretendant, however; that would make it rightfor Osmond. On her way out of the ball-room she came upon Edward Rosier, who was standing ina doorway, with folded arms, looking at the dance in the attitude of a young man without illusions.She stopped a moment and asked him if he were not dancing."Certainly not, if I can't dance with HER!" he answered."You had better go away then," said Isabel with the manner of good counsel."I shall not go till she does!" And he let Lord Warburton pass without giving him a look.This nobleman, however, had noticed the melancholy youth, and he asked Isabel who her dismalfriend was, remarking that he had seen him somewhere before."It's the young man I've told you about, who's in love with Pansy."第 294 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Ah yes, I remember. He looks rather bad.""He has reason. My husband won't listen to him.""What's the matter with him?" Lord Warburton enquired. "He seems very harmless.""He hasn't money enough, and he isn't very clever."Lord Warburton listened with interest; he seemed struck with this account of Edward Rosier."Dear me; he looked a well-set-up young fellow.""So he is, but my husband's very particular.""Oh, I see." And Lord Warburton paused a moment. "How much money has he got?" he thenventured to ask."Some forty thousand francs a year.""Sixteen hundred pounds? Ah, but that's very good, you know.""So I think. My husband, however, has larger ideas.""Yes; I've noticed that your husband has very large ideas. Is he really an idiot, the young man?""An idiot? Not in the least; he's charming. When he was twelve years old I myself was in love withhim.""He doesn't look much more than twelve to-day," Lord Warburton rejoined vaguely, looking abouthim. Then with more point, "Don't you think we might sit here?" he asked."Wherever you please." The room was a sort of boudoir, pervaded by a subdued, rose-colouredlight; a lady and gentleman moved out of it as our friends came in. "It's very kind of you to takesuch an interest in Mr. Rosier," Isabel said."He seems to me rather ill-treated. He had a face a yard long. I wondered what ailed him.""You're a just man," said Isabel. "You've a kind thought even for a rival."Lord Warburton suddenly turned with a stare. "A rival! Do you call him my rival?""Surely--if you both wish to marry the same person.""Yes--but since he has no chance!""I like you, however that may be, for putting your self in his place. It shows imagination.""You like me for it?" And Lord Warburton looked at her with an uncertain eye. "I think you meanyou're laughing at me for it.""Yes, I'm laughing at you a little. But I like you as somebody to laugh at.""Ah well, then, let me enter into his situation a little more. What do you suppose one could do forhim?""Since I have been praising your imagination I'll leave you to imagine that yourself," Isabel said."Pansy too would like you for that.""Miss Osmond? Ah, she, I flatter myself, likes me already.""Very much, I think."He waited a little; he was still questioning her face. "Well then, I don't understand you. You don'tmean that she cares for him?"第 295 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网A quick blush sprang to his brow. "You told me she would have no wish apart from her father's,and as I've gathered that he would favour me--!" He paused a little and then suggested "Don't yousee?" through his blush."Yes, I told you she has an immense wish to please her father, and that it would probably take hervery far.""That seems to me a very proper feeling," said Lord Warburton."Certainly; it's a very proper feeling." Isabel remained silent for some moments; the roomcontinued empty; the sound of the music reached them with its richness softened by the interposingapartments. Then at last she said: "But it hardly strikes me as the sort of feeling to which a manwould wish to be indebted for a wife.""I don't know; if the wife's a good one and he thinks she does well!""Yes, of course you must think that.""I do; I can't help it. You call that very British, of course.""No, I don't. I think Pansy would do wonderfully well to marry you, and I don't know who shouldknow it better than you. But you're not in love.""Ah, yes I am, Mrs. Osmond!"Isabel shook her head. "You like to think you are while you sit here with me. But that's not howyou strike me.""I'm not like the young man in the doorway. I admit that. But what makes it so unnatural? Couldany one in the world be more loveable than Miss Osmond?""No one, possibly. But love has nothing to do with good reasons.""I don't agree with you. I'm delighted to have good reasons.""Of course you are. If you were really in love you wouldn't care a straw for them.""Ah, really in love--really in love!" Lord Warburton exclaimed, folding his arms, leaning back hishead and stretching himself a little. "You must remember that I'm forty-two years old. I won'tpretend I'm as I once was.""Well, if you're sure," said Isabel, "it's all right."He answered nothing; he sat there, with his head back, looking before him. Abruptly, however, hechanged his position; he turned quickly to his friend. "Why are you so unwilling, so sceptical?"She met his eyes, and for a moment they looked straight at each other. If she wished to be satisfiedshe saw something that satisfied her; she saw in his expression the gleam of an idea that she wasuneasy on her own account--that she was perhaps even in fear. It showed a suspicion, not a hope,but such as it was it told her what she wanted to know. Not for an instant should he suspect her ofdetecting in his proposal of marrying her step-daughter an implication of increased nearness toherself, or of thinking it, on such a betrayal, ominous. In that brief, extremely personal gaze,however, deeper meanings passed between them than they were conscious of at the moment."My dear Lord Warburton," she said, smiling, "you may do, so far as I'm concerned, whatevercomes into your head."第 296 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网And with this she got up and wandered into the adjoining room, where, within her companion's