Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/323

315 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 315 " Whom do you call her family 1 " "Why, her father; and how do ycu say it in English? her belle-mere" "Mr. Osmond is her father, certainly; but his wife can scarcely "be termed a member of her family. Mrs. Osmond has nothing to do with marrying her." " I am sorry for that," said Rosier, with an amiable sigh. " I think Mrs. Osmond would favour me." " Very likely if her husband does not." Edward Eosier raised his eyebrows. " Does she take the opposite line from him ? " "In everything. They thin very differently." "Well," said Rosier, "I am sorry for that; but it's none of my business. She is very fond of Pansy." " Yes, she is very fond of Pansy." "And Pansy has a great affection for her. She has told me that she loves her as if she were her own mother." " You must, after all, have had some very intimate talk with the poor child," said Madame Merle. " Have you declared your sentiments 1 " "Never!" cried Rosier, lifting his neatly -gloved hand. " Never, until I have assured myself of those of the parents." " You always wait for that 1 You have excellent principles ; your conduct is most estimable." " I think you are laughing at me," poor Rosier murmured, dropping back in his chair, and feeling his small moustache. " I didn't expect that of you, Madame Merle." She shook her head calmly, like a person who saw things clearly. ." You don't do me justice. I think your conduct is in excellent taste and the best you could adopt. Yes, that's what I think." " I wouldn't agitate her only to agitate her ; I love her too much for that," said Ned Rosier. " I am glad, after all, that you have told me," Madame Merle went on. " Leave it to me a little ; I think I can help you." " I said you were the person to come to ! " cried the young man, with an ingenuous radiance in his face. " You were very clever," Madame Merle returned, more drily. " When I say I can help you, I mean once assuming that your cause is good. Let us think a little whether it is." "I'm a dear little fellow," said Rosier, earnestly. "I won't say I have no faults, but I will say I have no vices." "All that is negative. What is the positive side 1 ? What