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314 314 THE PORTKAIT OF A LADY. Hosier's eyes wandered, lingeringly, round the room again. " You have some very good things." " Yes, but I hate them." " Do you want to get rid of them ? " the young man asked quickly. f " No, it's good to have something to hate ; one works it off." "I love my things," said Eosier, as he sat there smiling. " But it's not about them nor about yours, that I came to talk to you." He paused a moment, and then, with greater softness "I care more for Miss Osmond than for all the frtfefefoin Europe ! " Madame Merle started a little. " Did you come to tell me that ? " " I came to ask your advice." She looked at him with a little frown, stroking her chin. " A man in love, you know, doesn't ask advice." " Why not, if he is in a difficult position? That's often the case with a man in love. I have been in love before, and I know. But never so much as this time really, never so much, I should like particularly to know what you think of my pros- pects. I'm afraid Mr. Osmond doesn't think me a phoenix." " Do you wish me to intercede ] " Madame Merle asked, with her fine arms folded, and her mouth drawn up to the left. " If you could say a good word for me, I should be greatly obliged. There will be no use in my troubling Miss Osmond unless I have good reason to believe her father will consent." " You are very considerate ; that's in your favour. But you assume, in rather an off-hand way, that I think you a prize." "You have been very kind to me," said the young man. " That's why I came." "I am always kind to people who have good bibelots there is no telling what one may get by it." And the left-hand corner of Madame Merle's mouth gave expression to the joke. Edward Rosier stared and blushed ; his correct features were suffused with disappointment. " Ah, I thought you liked me for myself ! " " I like you very much ; but, if you please, we won't analyse. Excuse me if I seem patronising; but I think you a perfect little gentleman. I must tell you, however, that I have not the marrying of Pansy Osmond." " I didn't suppose that. But you have seemed to me intimate with her family, and I thought you might have influence." Madame Merle was silent a moment.