Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/165

157 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. . 157 " Yes, yes, I remember. I made a new will in a few days. I suppose it was the first time such a thing had happened a young man trying to get a will made against him." " It is not against me," said Ralph. " It would be against me to have a large property to take care of. It is impossible for a man in my state of health to spend much money, and enough is as good as a feast." " Well, you will have enough and something over. There will be more than enough for one there will be enough for two." "That's too much," said Ealph. " Ah, don't say that. The best thing you can do, when I am gone, will be to marry." Ealph had foreseen what his father was coming to, and this suggestion was by no means novel. It had long been Mr. Touchett's most ingenious way of expressing the optimistic view of his son's health. Ealph had usually treated it humorously ; but present circumstances made the humorous tone impossible. He simply fell back in his chair and returned his father's appeal- ing gaze in silence. 11 If I, with a wife who hasn't been very fond of me, have had a very happy life," said the old man, carrying his ingenuity further still, " what a life might you not have, if you should marry a person different from Mrs. Touchett. There are more different from her than there are like her." Ealph still said nothing ; and after a pause his father asked softly " What do you think of your cousin ? " At this Ealph started, meeting the question with a rather fixed smile. " Do I understand you to propose that I should marry Isabel 1 " " Well, that's what it comes to in the end. Don't you like her?" " Yes, very much." And Ealph got up from his chair and wandered over to the fire. He stood before it an instant and then he stooped and stirred it, mechanically. " I like Isabel very much," he repeated. " Well," said his father, " I know she likes you. She told me so." " Did she remark that she would like to marry me 1 " "JSTo, but she can't have anything against you. And she is the most charming young lady I have ever seen. And she would be good to you. I have thought a great deal about it." " So have I," said Ealph, coming back to the bedside again. ' I don't mind telling you that."