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160 160 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. has an easy income she will never have to marry for a support. She wishes to be free, and your bequest will make her free." " Well, you seem to have thought it out," said Mr. Touchett. " But I don't see why you appeal to me. The money will be yours, and you can easily give it to her yourself." Ealph started a little. " Ah, dear father, / can't offer Isabel money ! " The old man gave a groan. " Don't tell me you are not in love with her ! Do you want me to have the credit of it?" " Entirely. I should like it simply to be a clause in your will, without the slightest reference to me." " Do you want me to make a new will, then 1 " " A few words will do it ; you can attend to it the next time you feel a little lively." " You must telegraph to Mr. Hilary, then. I will do nothing without my solicitor." " You shall see Mr. Hilary to-morrow." " He will think we have quarrelled, you and I," said the old man. " Very probably ; I shall like him to think it," said Ralph, smiling ; " and to carry out the idea, I give you notice that I shall be very sharp with you." The humour of this appeared to touch his father ; he lay a little while taking it in. " I will do anything you like," he said at last ; " but I'm not sure it's right. You say you want to put wind in her sails ; but aren't you afraid of putting too much 1 " "I should like to see her going before the breeze ! " Ralpk answered. " You speak as if it were for your entertainment." " So it is, a good deal." " Well, I don't think I understand," said Mr. Touchett, with a sigh. "Young men are very different from what I was. When I cared for a girl when I was young I wanted to do more than look at her. You have scruples that I shouldn't have had. and you have ideas that I shouldn't have had either. You say that Isabel wants to be free, and that her being rich will keep her from marrying for money. Do you think that she is a girl to do that 1 " " By no means. But she has less money than she has ever had before ; but her father gave her everything, because he used to spend his capital. She has nothing but the crumbs of that feast to live on, and she doesn't really know how meagre they are she has yet to learn it. My mother has told me all about