Pansy said nothing for a moment; she only continued to smile as if she were in possession of a bright assurance. ‘There’s no danger—no danger!’ she declared at last.

There was a conviction in the way she said this, and a felicity in her believing it, which conduced to Isabel’s awkwardness. She felt accused of dishonesty, and the idea was disgusting. To repair her self- respect she was on the point of saying that Lord Warburton had let her know that there was a danger. But she didn’t; she only said—in her embarrassment rather wide of the mark—that he surely had been most kind, most friendly.

‘Yes, he has been very kind,’ Pansy answered. ‘That’s what I like him for.’

‘Why then is the difficulty so great?’

‘I’ve always felt sure of his knowing that I don’t want—what did you say I should do?—to encourage him. He knows I don’t want to marry, and he wants me to know that he therefore won’t trouble me. That’s the meaning of his kindness. It’s as if he said to me: “I like you very much, but if it doesn’t please you I’ll never say it again.” I think that’s very kind, very noble,’ Pansy went on with deepening positiveness. ‘That is all we’ve said to each other. And he doesn’t care for me either. Ah no, there’s no danger.’

Isabel was touched with wonder at the depths of perception of which this submissive little person was capable; she felt afraid of Pansy’s wisdom—began almost to retreat before it. ‘You must tell your father that,’ she remarked reservedly.

‘I think I’d rather not,’ Pansy unreservedly answered.

‘You oughtn’t to let him have false hopes.’

‘Perhaps not; but it will be good for me that he should. So long as he believes that Lord Warburton intends anything of the kind you say, papa won’t propose any one else. And that will be an advantage for me,’ said the child very lucidly.

There was something brilliant in her lucidity, and it made her companion draw a long breath. It relieved this friend of a heavy responsibility. Pansy had a sufficient illumination of her own, and Isabel felt that she herself just now had no light to spare from her small stock. Nevertheless it still clung to her that she must be loyal to Osmond, that she was on her honour in dealing with his daughter. Under the influence of this sentiment she threw out another suggestion before she retired—a suggestion with which it seemed to her that she should have done her utmost. ‘Your father takes for granted at least that you would like to marry a nobleman.’

Pansy stood in the open doorway; she had drawn back the curtain for Isabel to pass. ‘I think Mr Rosier looks like one!’ she remarked very gravely.