Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/325

317 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 317 " You'll be a touching couple, living on your innocence ! " " I think you underrate me." "You are not so innocent as that? Seriously," said Madame Merle, " of course forty thousand francs a year and a nice character are a combination to be considered. I don't say it's to be jumped at ; but there might be a worse offer. Mr. Osmond will probably incline to believe he can do better." "He can do so, perhaps; but what can his daughter do? She can't do better than marry the man she loves. For she does, you know," Rosier added, eagerly. "She does I know it." " Ah," cried the young man, " I said you were the person to come to." " But I don't know how you know it, if you haven't asked her," Madame Merle went on. " In such a case there is no need of asking and telling ; as you say, we are an innocent couple. How did you know it?" " I who am not innocent 1 By being very crafty. Leave it to me ; I will find out for you." Rosier got up, and stood smoothing his hat. " You say that rather coldly. Don't simply find out how it is, but try to make it as it should be." " I will do my best. I will try to make the most of your advantages." " Thank you so very much. Meanwhile, I will say a word to Mrs. Osmond." " G-ardez-voiis en bien ! " And Madame Merle rose, rapidly. "Don't set her going, or you'll spoil everything." Rosier gazed into his hat ; he wondered whether his hostess had been after all the right person to come to. "I don't think I understand you. I am an old friend of Mrs. Osmond, and I think she would like me to succeed." "Be an old friend as much as you like ; the more old friends she has the better, for she doesn't get on very well with some of her new. But don't for the present try to make her take up the cudgels for you. Her husband may have other views, and, as a person who wishes her well, I advise you not to multiply points f difference between them." Poor Rosier's face assumed an expression of alarm a suit for the hand of Pansy Osmond was even a more complicated business than his taste for proper transitions had allowed. But the ex- treme good sense which he concealed under a surface suggesting sprigged porcelain, came to his assistance.