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322 322 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY,

"You see I am very regular," he said. " But who should be if I am not 1 " " Yes, I have known you longer than any one here. But we must not indulge in tender reminiscences. I want to introduce you to a young lady." "Ah, please, what young lady?" Rosier was immensely obliging ; but this was not what he had come for. " She sits there by the fire in pink, and has no one to speak to." Eosier hesitated a moment. " Can't Mr. Osmond speak to her 1 He is within six feet of her." Mrs. Osmond also hesitated. " She is not very lively, and he doesn't like dull people." " " But she is good enough for me ? Ah now, that is hard." "I only mean that you have ideas for two. And then you are so' obliging." " So is your husband." " No, he is not to me." And Mrs. Osmond smiled vaguely. " That's a sign he should be doubly so to other women." " So I tell him," said Mrs. Osmond, still smiling. " You see I want some tea," Rosier went on, looking wistfully beyond. "That's perfect. Go and give some to my young lady." "Very good; but after that I will abandon her to her fate. The simple truth is that I am dying to have a little talk with Miss Osmond." " Ah," said Isabel, turning away, " I can't help you there ! " Five minutes later, while he handed a tea-cup to the young lady in pink, whom he had conducted into _the other room, he wondered whether, in making to Mrs. Osmond the profession I have just quoted, he had broken the spirit of his promise to Madame Merle. Such a question was capable of occupying this young man's mind for a considerable time. At last, however, he became comparatively speaking reckless, and cared little what promises he might break. The fate to which he had threatened to abandon the young lady in pink proved to be none so terrible ; for Pansy Osmond, who had given him the tea for his companion Pansy was as fond as ever of making tea presently came and talked to her. Into this mild colloquy Edward Rosier entered little ; he sat by moodily, watching his small sweetheart. If we look at her now through his eyes, we shall at first not see much to remind us of the obedient little girl who, at Florence, three y^ars before, was sent to walk short