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209 THE POKTRAIT OF A LADY. 209 gained it in the right way experimentally ; you have compared an immense number of people with each other." " Well, I invite you to profit by my knowledge." " To profit 1 Are you very sure that I shall 1 ? " " It's what I hope. It will depend upon yourself. If I could only induce you to make an effort ! " " Ah, there you are ! I knew something tiresome was coming. What in the world that is likely to turn up here is worth an effort ?" Madame Merle flushed a little, and her eye betrayed vexation. " Don't be foolish, Osmond. There is no one knows better than you that there are many things worth an effort." " Many things, I admit. But they are none of them probable things." " It is the effort that makes them probable," said Madame Merle. " There's something in that. Who is your friend 1 " " The person I came to Florence to see. She is a niece of Mrs. Touchett, whom you will not have forgotten." " A niece 1 The word niece suggests youth. I see what you are coming to." " Yes, she is young twenty-two years old. She is a great friend of mine. I met her for the first time in England, several months ago, and we took a great fancy to each other. I like her immensely, and I do what I don't do every day I admire her. You will do the same." "Not if 'I can help it." " Precisely. But you won't be able to help it." " Is she beautiful, clever, rich, splendid, universally intelli- gent and unprecedentedly virtuous ? It is only on those condi- tions that I care to make her acquaintance. You know I asked you some time ago never to speak to me of any one who should not correspond to that description. I know plenty of dingy people ; I don't want to know any more." " Miss Archer is not dingy ; she's as bright as the morning. She corresponds to your description ; it is for that I wish you to know her. She fills all your requirements." " More or less, of course." " No ; quite literally. She is beautiful, accomplished, gener- ous, and for an American, well-born. She is also very clever and very amiable, and she has a handsome fortune." Mr. Osmond listened to this in silence, appearing to turn it over in his mind, with his eyes on his informant. " What do you want to do with her 1 " he asked, at last. p