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136 136 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. also ought to be considerate; we have each to judge for our- selves. I know you are considerate, as much as you can be : you have good reasons for what you do. But I don't want to marry. I shall probably never marry. I have a perfect right to feel that way, and it is no kindness to a woman to urge her to persuade her against her will. If I give you pain I can only say I am very sorry. It is not my fault ; I can't marry you simply to please you. I won't say that I shall always remain your friend, because when women say that, in these circum- stances, it is supposed, I believe, to be a sort of mockery. But try me some day." Caspar Goodwood, during this speech, had kept his eyes fixed upon the name of his hatter, and it was not until some time after she had ceased speaking that he raised them. When he did so, the sight of a certain rosy, lovely eagerness in Isabel's face throw some confusion into his attempt to analyse what she had said. " I will go home I will go to-morrow 1 will leave you alone," he murmured at last. " Only," he added in a louder tone " I hate to lose sight of you ! " " Never fear. I will do no harm." " You will marry some one else," said Caspar Goodwood. " Do you think that is a generous charge? " " Why not 1 Plenty of men will ask you." " I told you just now that 1 don't wish to marry, and that T shall probably never do so." " I know you did ; but I don't believe it." " Thank you very much. You appear to think I am attempt- ing to deceive you ; you say very delicate things." "Why should I not say that? You have given me no promise that you will not marry." " JS"o, that is all that would be wanting ! " cried Isabel, with a bitter laugh. " You think you won't, but you will," her visitor went on, as if he were preparing himself fur the worst. "Very well, I will then. Have it as you please." " I don't know, however," said Caspar Goodwood, " that my keeping you in sight would prevent it." " Don't you indeed ? I am, after all, very much afraid of you. Do you think I am so very easily pleased 1 " she asked suddenly, changing her tone. " No, I don't ; I shall try and console myself with that. But there are a certain number of very clever men in the world ; if there were only one, it would be enough. You will be sure to take no one who is not."