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469 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 469 way, as Mr. Touchett. Afterwards she wrote that she had been obliged to surrender the field to Mrs. Touchett, who had just returned from America, and had promptly given her to under- stand that she didn't wish any interviewing at Gardencourt. Isabel had written to her aunt shortly after Ralph came to Rome, letting her know of his critical condition, and suggesting that she should lose no time in returning to Europe. Mrs. Touchett had telegraphed an acknowledgment of this admonition, and the only further news Isabel received from her was the second telegram which I have just quoted. Isabel stood a moment looking at the latter missive, then, thrusting it into her pocket, she went straight to the door of her husband's study. Here she again paused an instant, after which she opened the door and went in. Osmond was seated at the table near the window with a folio volume before him, propped against a pile of books. This volume was open at a page of small coloured plates, and Isabel presently saw that he had been copying from it the drawing of an antique coin. A box of water-colours and fine brushes lay before him, and he had already transferred to a sheet of immaculate paper the delicate, finely-tinted disk. His back was turned toward the door, but without looking round he recognised his wife. " Excuse me for disturbing you," she said. " When I come to your room I always knock," he answered, going on with his work. " I forgot ; I had something else to think of. My cousin is dying." . " Ah, I don't believe that," said Osmond, looking at his drawing through a magnifying glass. " He was dying when we married ; he will outlive us all." Isabel gave herself no time, no thought, to appreciate the careful cynicism of this declaration ; she simply went on quickly, full of her own intention " My aunt has telegraphed for me ; I must go to Garden- court." " Why must you go to Gardencourt?" Osmond asked, in the tone of impartial curiosity. " To see Ralph before he dies." To this, for some time, Osmond made no rejoinder ; he con- tinued to give his chief attention to his work, which was of a sort that would brook no negligence. " I don't see the need of it," he said at last. " He came to see you here. I didn't like that ; I thought his being in Rome a great mistake. But I tolerated it, because it was to be the last