Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/110

102 102 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. " Well," Henrietta replied, good-humouredly, " if I had not known before that you were trying to turn me into ridicule, I should know it now. Of course I am easy game I was brought up with such different customs and ideas. I am not used to your arbitrary standards, and I have never been spoken to in America as you have spoken to me. If a gentleman conversing with me over there, were to speak to me like that, I shouldn't know what to make of it. We take everything more naturally over there, and, after all, we are a great deal more simple. I admit that ; I am very simple myself. Of course, if you choose to laugh at me for that, you are very welcome ; but I think on the whole I would rather be myself than you. I am quite content to be myself ; I don't want to change. There are plenty of people that appreciate me just as I am ; it is true they are only Americans ! " Henrietta had lately taken up the tone of helpless innocence ^,nd large concession. " I want you to assist me a little," she went on. " I don't care in the least whether I amuse you while you do so; or, rather, I am perfectly willing that your amusement should be your reward. I want you to help me about Isabel." " Has she injured you 1 " Ealph asked. " If she had I shouldn't mind, and I should never tell you. What I am afraid of is that she will injure herself." " I think that is very possible," said Ealph. His companion stopped in the garden- walk, fixing on him a gaze which may perhaps have contained the quality that caused his knees to knock together. " That, too, would amuse you, I suppose. The way you do say things ! I never heard any one so indifferent." " To Isabel 1 Never in the world." " Well, you are not in love with her, I hope." " How can that be, when I am in love with another 1 " " You are in love with yourself, that's the other ! " Miss Stackpole declared. " Much good may it do you ! But if you wish to be serious once in your life, here's a chance ; and if you really care for your cousin, here is an opportunity to prove it. I don't expect you to understand her ; that's too much to ask. But you needn't do that to grant my favour. I will supply the necessary intelligence." " I shall enjoy that immensely ! " Ralph exclaimed. " I will be Caliban, and you shall be Ariel." " You are not at all like Caliban, because you are sophisti- cated, and Caliban was not. But I am not talking about imaginary characters ; I am talking about Isabel. Isabel is