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144 144 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. " Do you know where you are drifting ] " Henrietta went on holding out her bonnet delicately. "No, I haven't the least idea, and I find it very pleasant not to know. A swift carnage, of a dark night, rattling with four horses over roads that one can't see that's my idea of happiness." " Mr. Goodwood certainly didn't teach you to say such things as that like the heroine of an immoral novel," said Miss Stack- pole. " You are drifting to some great mistake." Isabel was irritated by her friend's interference, but even in the midst of her irritation she tried to think what truth this declaration could represent. She could think of nothing that diverted her from saying " You must be very fond of me, Henrietta, to be willing to be so disagreeable to me." " I love you, Isabel/' said Miss Stackpole, with feeling. " Well, if you love me, let me alone. I asked that of Mr. Goodwood, and I must also ask it of you." " Take care you are not let alone too much." " That is what Mr. Goodwood said to me. I told him I must take the risks." " You are a creature of risks you make me shudder ! " cried Henrietta. " When does Mr. Goodwood return to America 1 ?" " I don't know he didn't tell me." " Perhaps you didn't inquire," said Henrietta, with the note of righteous irony. " I gave him too little satisfaction to have the right to ask questions of him." This assertion seemed to Miss Stackpole for a moment to bid defiance to comment ; but at last she exclaimed " Well, Isabel, if I didn't know you, I might think you were heartless ! " " Take care," said Isabel; " you are spoiling me." " I am afraid I have done that already. I hope, at least," Miss Stackpole added, " that he may cross with Annie Climber ! " Isabel learned from her the next morning that she had deter- mined not to return to Gardencourt (where old Mr. Touchett had promised her a renewed welcome), but to await in London the arrival of the invitation that Mr. Bantling had promised her from his sister, Lady Pensil. Miss Stackpole related very freely her conversation with Ealph Touchett's sociable friend, and declared to Isabel that she really believed she had now got hold of something that would lead to something. On the receipt of Lady Pensil's letter Mr. Bantling had virtually guaranteed the arrival of this document she would immediately depart for