Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/243

235 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 235 " My poor Amy," Madame Merle murmured, " I don't see what has got -into your head." " I take an interest in her that is what has got into my head. I like her." Madame Merle hesitated a moment. "I don't think she likes you." The Countess's bright little eyes expanded, and her face was set in a grimace. " Ah, you are dangerous," she cried, " even by yourself ! ". "If you want her to like you, don't abuse your brother to her," said Madame Merle. "I don't suppose you pretend she has fallen in love with him in two interviews." Madame Merle looked a moment at Isabel and at the master of the house. He was leaning against the parapet, facing her, with his arms folded ; and she, at present, though she had her face turned to the opposite prospect, was evidently not scruti- nising it. As Madame Merle watched her she lowered her eyes ; she was listening, possibly with a certain embarrassment, while she pressed the point of her parasol into the path. Madame Merle rose from her chair. "Yes, I think so!" she said. The shabby footboy, summoned by Pansy, had come out with a small table, which he placed upon the grass, and then had gone back and fetched the tea-tray ; after which he again disappeared, to return with a couple of chairs. Pansy had watched these proceedings with the deepest interest, standing with her small hands folded together upon the front of her scanty frock ; but she had not presumed to offer assistance to the servant. When the tea-table had been arranged, however, she gently approached her aunt. "Do you think papa would object to my making the tea?" The Countess looked at her with a deliberately critical gaze, and without answering her question. " My poor niece," she said, " is that your best frock f " "Ah no," Pansy answered, "it's just a little toilet for common occasions." " Do you call it a common occasion when I come to see you 1 to say nothing of Madame Merle and the pretty lady yonder." Pansy reflected a moment, looking gravely from one of the persons mentioned to the other. Then her face broke into its perfect smile. " I have a pretty dress, but even that one is very simple. Why should I expose it beside your beautiful things?" '