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13 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 13 eitting, and he slowly got up from his chair to introduce himself. " My mother has arrived," said Ealph, " and this is Miss Archer/' The old man placed his two hands on her shoulders, looked at her a moment with extreme benevolence, and then gallantly kissed her. " It is a great pleasure to me to see you here ; but I wish you had given us a chance to receive you." " Oh, we were received," said the girl. " There were about a dozen servants in the hall. And there was an old woman curtseying at the gate." " We can do better than that if we have notice ! " And the old man stood there, smiling, rubbing his hands, and slowly shaking his head at her. " But Mrs. Touchett doesn't like receptions." " She went straight to her room." " Yes and locked herself in. She always does that. Well, I suppose I shall see her next week." And Mrs. Touchett's husband slowly resumed his former posture. " Before that," said Miss Archer. " She is coming down to dinner at eight o'clock. Don't you forget a quarter to seven," she added, turning with a smile to Ralph. " What is to happen at a quarter to seven ? " " I am to see my mother," said Ralph. " Ah, happy boy ! " the old man murmured. " You must sit down you must have some tea," he went on, addressing his wife's niece. " They gave me some tea in my room the moment I arrived," this young lady answered. " I am sorry you are out of health," she added, resting her eyes upon her venerable host. " Oh, I'ni an old man, my dear; it's time for me to be old. But I shall be the better for having you hers." She had been looking all round her again at the lawn, the great trees, the reedy, silvery Thames, the beautiful old house ; and while engaged in this survey, she had also narrowly scruti- nized her companions ; a comprehensiveness of observation easily conceivable on the part of a young woman who was evidently both intelligent and excited. She had seated herself, and had put away the little dog ; her white hands, in her lap, were folded upon her black dress ; her head was erect, her eye brilliant., her flexible figure turned itself lightly this way and that, in sym- pathy with the alertness with which she evidently caught ini- piessions. Her impressions were numerous, and they were all