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320 320 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. expressing to his hostess his pure admiration of her treasures. He learned from Mrs. Osmond that her husband had made a large collection before their marriage, and that, though he had obtained a number of fine pieces within the last three years, he had got his best things at a time when he had not the advantage of her advice. Rosier interpreted this information according to principles of his own. For " advice " read " money," he said to himself ; and the fact that Gilbert Osmond had landed his great prizes during his impecunious season, confirmed his most cherished doctrine the doctrine that a collector may freely be poor if he be only patient. In general, when Eosier presented himself on a Thursday evening, his first glance was bestowed upon the walls of the room ; there were three or four objects that his eyes really yearned for. But after his talk with Madame Merle he felt the extreme seriousness of his position ; and now, when he came in, he looked about for the daughter of the house with such eagerness as might be permitted to a gentleman who always crossed a threshold with an optimistic smile. XXXVII. PANSY was not in the first of the rooms, a large apartment with a concave ceiling and walls covered with old red damask ; it was here that Mrs. Osmond usually sat though she was not in her usually customary place to-night and that a circle of more especial intimates gathered about the fire. The room was warm, with a sort of subdued brightness ; it contained the larger things, and almost always an odour of flowers. Pansy on this occasion was presumably in the chamber beyond, the resort of younger visitors, where tea was served. Osmond stood before the chimney, leaning back, with his hands behind him ; he had one foot up and was warming the sole. Half-a-dozen people, scattered near him, were talking together ; but he was not in the conversation ; his eyes were fixed, abstractedly. Eosier, coming in unannounced, failed to attract his attention ; but the young man, who was very punctilious, though he was even exception- ally conscious that it was the wife, not the husband, be had ome to see, went up to shake hands with him. Osmond put out his left hand, without changing his attitude. " How d'ye do 1 My wife's somewhere about." " Never fear : I shall find her," said Eosier, cheerfully. Osmond stood looking at him; he had never before felt the