Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/138

130 130 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. _ " I don't understand you very well," said Isabel, " but I do so well enough to be able to say that it* you look for magnificent examples of anything I shall disappoint you." " You will do so only by disappointing yourself and that will go hard with you ! " To this Isabel made no direct reply ; there was an amount of truth in it which would bear consideration. At last she said, abruptly " I don't see what harm there is in my wishing not to tie myself. I don't want to begin life by marrying. There are other things a woman can do." " There is nothing she can do so well. But you are many- sided." " If one is two-sided, it is enough," said Isabel. " You are the most charming of polygons ! " Ealph broke out, with a laugh. At a glance from his companion, however, he became grave, and to prove it he went on " You want to see life, as the young men say." " I don't think I want to see it as the young men want to see it ; but I do want to look about me." " You want to drain the cup of experience." "No, I don't wish to touch the cup of experience. It's a poisoned drink ! I only want to see for myself." " You want to see, but not to feel," said Ralph. " I don't think that if one is a sentient being, one can make the distinction," Isabel returned. " I am a good deal like Henrietta. The other day, when I asked her if she wished to marry, she said ' Not till I have seen Europe ! ' I too don't wish to marry until I have seen Europe." " You evidently expect that a crowned head will be struck with you." " ~No, that would be worse than marrying Lord Warburton. But it is getting very dark," Isabel continued, " and I must go home." She rose from her place, but Ralph sat still a moment, looking at her. As he did not follow her, she stopped, and they remained a while exchanging a gaze, full on either side, but especially on Ralph's, of utterances too vague for words. " You have answered my question," said Ralph at last. " You have told me what I wanted. I am greatly obliged to you." " It seems to me I have told you very little." " You have told me the great thing : that the world interests you and that you want to throw yourself into it." Isabel's silvery eyes shone for a moment in the darkness ' I never said that."