Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/245

Rh "You didn't marry well; that's what I am speaking of. When I say a husband, I mean a good one."

"There are no good ones. Osmond won't be a good one." Madame Merle closed her eyes a moment. "You are irritated just now; I don't know why," she said, presently. "I don't think you will really object either to your brother, or to your niece's, marrying, when the time comes for them to do so ; and as regards Pansy, I am confident that we shall some day have the pleasure of looking for a husband for her together. Your large acquaintance will be a great help."

"Yes, I am irritated," the Countess answered. "You often irritate me. Your own coolness is fabulous ; you are a strange woman."

"It is much better that we should always act together," Madame Merle went on.

"Do you mean that as a threat?" asked the Countess, rising. Madame Merle shook her head, with a smile of sadness. "No indeed, you have not my coolness!"

Isabel and Mr. Osmond were now coming toward them, and Isabel had taken Pansy by the hand.

"Do you pretend to believe he would make her happy?" the Countess demanded.

"If he should marry Miss Archer I suppose he would behave like a gentleman."

The Countess jerked herself into a succession of attitudes. "Do you mean as most gentlemen behave? That would be much to be thankful for! Of course Osmond's a gentleman; his own sister needn't be reminded of that. But does he think he can marry any girl he happens to pick out? Osmond's a gentleman, of course; but I must say I have never, no never, seen any one of Osmond's pretensions! What they are all based upon is more than I can say. I am his own sister; I might be supposed to know. Who is he, if you please? What has he ever done? If there had been anything particularly grand in his origin—if he were made of some superior clay—I suppose I should have got some inkling of it. If there had been any great honours or splendours in the family, I should certainly have made the most of them ; they would have been quite in my line. But there is nothing, nothing, nothing. One's parents were charming people of course ; but so were yours, I have no doubt. Every one is a charming person, now-a-days. Even I am a charming person ; don't laugh, it has literally been said. As for Osmond, he has always appeared to believe that he is descended from the gods."