Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/472

464 464 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. quoted. And then he added, eagerly, like a man who in the midst of his misery is seized by a happy thought " Is that lady the Countess Gemini 1 I have a great desire to be presented to her." Isabel looked at him a moment. " She has no influence with her brother." " Ah, what a monster you make him out ! " Rosier exclaimed, glancing at the Countess, who advanced, in front of Pansy, with an animation partly due perhaps to the fact that she perceived her sister-in-law to be engaged in conversation with a very pretty young man. " I am glad you have kept your enamels ! " Isabel exclaimed, leaving him. She went straight to Pansy,- who, on seeing Edward Rosier, had stopped short, with lowered eyes. " We will go back to the carriage," said Isabel gently. " Yes, it is getting late," Pansy answered, more gently still. And she went on without a murmur, without faltering or glancing back. Isabel, however, allowed herself this last liberty, and saw that a meeting had immediately taken place between the Countess and Mr. Rosier. He had removed his hat, and was bowing and smiling; he had evidently introduced himself; while the Countess's expressive back displayed to Isabel's eye a gracious inclination. These facts, however, were presently lost to sight, for Isabel and Pansy took their places again in the carriage. Pansy, who faced her stepmother, at first kept her eyes fixed on her lap ; then she raised them and rested them on Isabel's. There shone out of each of them a little melancholy ray a spark of timid passion which touched Isabel to the heart. At the same time a wave of- envy passed over her soul, as she com- pared the tremulous longing, the definite ideal, of the young girl with her own dry despair. " Poor little Pansy ! " she said, affectionately. " Oh, never mind ! " Pansy answered, in the tone of eager apology. And then there was a silence ; the Countess was a long time coming. " Did you show your aunt everything, and did she enjoy it 1 " Isabel asked at last. " Yes, I showed her everything. I think she was very much And you are not tired, I hope." " Oh no, thank you, I am not tired." The Countess still remained behind, so that Isabel requested