Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/403

395 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 395 " It was about the position of woman in this city," Miss Stackpole remarked. " You threw a good deal of light upon it." " The position of woman is very uncomfortable. Is that what you mean 1 And you wrote it down and published it 1 " the Countess went on. " Ah, do let me see it ! " " I will write to them to send you the paper if you like," Henrietta said. " I didn't mention your name ; I only said a lady of high rank. And then 1 quoted your views." The Countess threw herself hastily backward, tossing up her clasped hands. "Do you know I am rather sorry you didn't mention my name 1 ? I should have rather liked to see my name in the papers. I forget what my views were ; I have so many ! But I am not ashamed of them. I am not at all like my brother I suppose you know my brother ? He thinks it a kind of disgrace to be put into the papers ; if you were to quote him he would never forgive you." " He needn't be afraid ; I shall mwer refer to him," said Miss Stackpole, with soft dryness. " That's another reason," she added, " why I wanted to come and see you. You know Mr. Osmond married my dearest friend." "Ah, yes; you were a friend of Isabel's. I was trying to think what I knew about you." " I am quite willing to be known by that," Henrietta declared. " But that isn't what your brother likes to know me by. He has tried to break up my relations with Isabel." " Don't permit it," said the Countess. " That's what I want to talk about. I am going to Rome." " So am I ! " the Countess cried. " We will go together." " With great pleasure. And when I write about my journey I will mention you by name, as my companion." The Countess sprang from her chair and came and sat on the sofa beside her visitor. " Ah, you must send me the paper ! My husband won't like it ; but he need never see it. Besides, he doesn't know how to read." Henrietta's large eyes became immense. " Doesn't know how to read ? May I put that into my letter 1 ?" "Into your letter V " In the In,ttirmeior.r. That's my paper." " Oh yes, if you like ; with his name. Are you going to stay with Isabel]" Henrietta held up her head, gazing a little in silence a,t he* hostess.