|
||||||||
help him to one. And now tell me about the young lady, he said to his mother. What do you mean to do with her? Mrs Touchett was prompt. I mean to ask your father to invite her to stay three or four weeks at Gardencourt. You neednt stand on any such ceremony as that, said Ralph. My father will ask her as a matter of course. I dont know about that. Shes my niece; shes not his. Good Lord, dear mother; what a sense of property! Thats all the more reason for his asking her. But after thatI mean after three months (for its absurd asking the poor girl to remain but for three of four paltry weeks)what do you mean to do with her? I mean to take her to Paris. I mean to get her clothing. Ah yes, thats of course. But independently of that? I shall invite her to spend the autumn with me in Florence. You dont rise above detail, dear mother, said Ralph. I should like to know what you mean to do with her in a general way. My duty! Mrs Touchett declared. I suppose you pity her very much, she added. No, I dont think I pity her. She doesnt strike me as inviting compassion. I think I envy her. Before being sure, however, give me a hint of where you see your duty. In showing her four European countriesI shall leave her the choice of two of themand in giving her the opportunity of perfecting herself in French, which she already knows very well. Ralph frowned a little. That sounds rather dryeven allowing her the choice of two of the countries. If its dry, said his mother with a laugh, you can leave Isabel alone to water it! She is as good as a summer rain, any day. Do you mean shes a gifted being? I dont know whether shes a gifted being, but shes a clever girlwith a strong will and a high temper. She has no idea of being bored. I can imagine that, said Ralph; and then he added abruptly: How do you two get on? Do you mean by that that Im a bore? I dont think she finds me one. Some girls might, I know; but Isabels too clever for that. I think I greatly amuse her. We get on because I understand her; I know the sort of girl she is. Shes very frank, and Im very frank: we know just what to expect of each other. Ah, dear mother, Ralph exclaimed, one always knows what to expect of you! Youve never surprised me but once, and thats to-dayin presenting me with a pretty cousin whose existence I had never suspected. Do you think her so very pretty? Very pretty indeed; but I dont insist upon that. Its her general air of being some one in particular that strikes me. Who is this rare creature, and what is she? Where did you find her, and how did you make her acquaintance? |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||