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304 304 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. you have said -JL may just answer you once for all. Pray, would you wish me to make a mercenary marriage what they call a marriage of ambition ? I have only one ambition to be free to follow out a good feeling. I had others once ; but they have passed away. Do you complain of Mr. Osmond because he is not rich 1 That is just what I like him for. I have fortunately money enough ; I have never felt so thankful for it as to-day. There have been moments when I should like to go and kneel down by your father's grave ; he did perhaps a better thing than he knew when he put it into my power to marry a poor man a man who has borne his poverty with such dignity, with such indifference, Mr. Osmond has never scrambled nor struggled he has cared for no worldly prize. If that is to be narrow, if that is to be selfish, then it's very well. I am not frightened by such words, I am not even displeased ; I am only sorry that you should make a mistake. Others might have done so, but I am surprised that you should. You might know a gentleman when you see one you might know a fine mind. Mr. Osmond makes no mistakes ! He knows everything, he understands everything, l^e has the kindest, gentlest, highest spirit. You have got hold of some false idea ; it's a pity, but I can't help it ; it regards you more than me." Isabel paused a moment, looking at her cousin with an eye illuminated, by a sentiment which contradicted the careful calmness of her manner a mingled sentiment, to which the angry pain excited by his words and the wounded pride of having needed to justify a choice of which she felt only the nobleness and purity, equally contributed. Though she paused, Ralph said nothing ; he saw she had more to say. She was superb, but she was eai^er ; she was indifferent, but she was secretly trembling. " What sort of a person should you have liked me to marry 1 " she asked, suddenly. " You talk about one's soaring and sailing, but if one marries at all one touches the earth. One has human feelings and needs, one has a heart in one's bosom, and one must marry a particular individual. Your mother has never forgiven me for not having come to a better understanding with Lord Warburton, and she is horrified at my contenting myself with a person who has none of Lord Warburton's great advantages no property, no title, no honours, no houses, nor lands, nor position, nor reputation, nor brilliant belongings of any sort. It is the total absence of all these bhings that pleases me. Mr. Osmond is simply a man he is aor. a proprietor ! " Ralph had listened with great attention, as if everything she said merited deep consideration ; but in reality he was only half