Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/506

498 498 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. " Oh, yes/' said Henrietta, " she didn't know what to make of me." " And was that very enjoyable 1 " " Very much so, because she is supposed to be very talented. She thinks she knows everything ; but she doesn't understand a lady-correspondent ! It would be so much easier for her if I were only a little better or a little worse. She's so puzzled ; I believe she thinks it's my duty to go and do something immoral. She thinks it's immoral that I should marry her brother ; but, , after all, that isn't immoral enough. And she will never under- stand never ! " " She is not so intelligent as her brother, then," said Isabel. " He appears to have understood." " Oh no, he hasn't ! " cried Miss Stackpole, with decision. " I really believe that's what he wants to marry me for just to find out. It's a fixed idea a kind of fascination." " It's very good in you to humour it." " Oh well," said Henrietta, " I have something to find out too ! " And Isabel saw that she had not renounced an allegi- ance, but planned an attack. She was at last about to grapple in earnest with England. Isabel also perceived, however, on the morrow, at the Padding- ton station, where she found herself, at two o'clock, in the com- pany both of Miss Stackpole and Mr. Bantling, that the gentle- man bore his perplexities lightly. If he had not found out everything, he had found out at least the great point that Miss Stackpole would not be wanting in initiative. It was evident that in the selection of a wife he had been on his guard against this deficiency. " Henrietta has told me, and I am very glad," Isabel said, as she gave him her hand. " I dare say you think it's very odd," Mr. Bantling replied, resting on his neat umbrella. " Yes, I think it's very odd." " You can't think it's so odd as I do. But I have always rather liked striking out a line," said Mr. Bantling, serenely.