Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/449

441 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 441 " That's why I don't go," said Isabel, simply, but not very lucidly. Ralph understood well enough, however. " I should think so, with all those occupations you speak of." " It isn't that. I am afraid," said Isabel. After a pause she repeated, as if to make herself, rather than him, hear the words " I am afraid." Ralph could hardly tell what her tone meant; it was so strangely deliberate apparently so void of emotion. Did she wish to do public penance for a fault of which she had not been convicted 1 or were her words simply an attempt at enlightened self-analysis 1 However this might be, Ralph could not resist so easy an opportunity. " Afraid of your husband 1 " he said, jocosely. " Afraid of myself ! " said Isabel, getting up. She stood there a moment, and then she added " If I were afraid of my hus- band, that would be simply my duty. That is what women are expected to be." " Ah, yes," said Ralph, laughing ; " but to make up for it there is always some man awfully afraid of some woman ! " She gave no heed to this pleasantry, but suddenly took a different turn. " With Henrietta at the head of your little band," she exclaimed abruptly, " there will be nothing left for Mr. Goodwood ! " " Ah, my dear Isabel," Ralph answered, " he's used to that. There is nothing left for Mr. Goodwood ! " Isabel coloured, and then she declared, quickly, that she must leave him. They stood together a moment ; both her hands were in both of his. " You have been my best friend," she said. " It was for you that I wanted that I wanted to live. But I am of no use to you." Then it came over her more poignantly that she should not see him again. She could not accept that ; she could not part with him that way. " If you should send for me I would come," she said at last. " Your husband won't consent to that." " Oh yes, I can arrange it." u I shall keep that for my last pleasure ! " said Ralph. In answer to which she simply kissed him. It was a Thursday, and that evening Caspar Goodwood came to the Palazzo Roccanera. He was among the first to arrive, and he spent some time in conversation with Gilbert Osmond, who almost always was present when his wife received. They sat down together, and Osmond, talkative, communicative,