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46 46 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. is more directly presented than to their sisters in other lands. Like the majority of American girls, Isabel had been encouraged to express herself ; her remarks had been attended to ; she had been expected to ha x ve emotions and opinions. Many of her opinions had doubtless but a slender value, many of her emotions passed away in the utterance ; but they had left a trace in giving her the habit of seeming at least to feel and think, and in imparting, moreover, to her words, when she was really moved, that artless vividness which so many people had regarded as a sign of superiority. Mr. Touchett used to think that she re- minded him of his wife when his wife was in her teens. It was because she was fresh and natural and quick to understand, to .speak so many characteristics of her niece that he had fallen in love with Mrs. Touchett. He never expressed this analogy to the girl herself, however ; for if Mrs. Touchett had once been like Isabel, Isabel was not at all like Mrs. Touchett. The old man was full of kindness for her; it was a long time, as he said, since they had had any young life in the house ; and our rustling, quickly-moving, clear-voiced heroine was as agreeable to his sense as the sound of flowing water. He wished to do something for her, he wished she would ask something of him. But Isabel asked nothing but questions ; it is true that of these she asked a great many. Her uncle had a great fund of answers, though interrogation sometimes came in forms that puzzled him. She questioned him immensely about ^England, about the British constitution, the English character, the state of politics, the manners and customs of the royal family, the peculiarities of the aristocracy, the way of living and thinking of his neigh- bours; and in asking to be enlightened on these points she usually inquired whether they correspond with the descriptions in the books. The old man always looked at her a little, with his fine dry smile, while he smoothed down the shawl that was spread across his legs. "The books-?" he once said; "well, I don't know much about the books. You must ask Ralph about that. I have always ascertained for myself got my information in the natural form. I never asked many questions even ; I just kept quiet and took notice. Of course, I have had very good oppor- tunities better than what a young lady would naturally have. I am of an inquisitive disposition, though you mightn't think it if you were to watch me ; however much you might watch me, I should be watching you more. I have been watching these people for upwards of thirty-five years, and I don't hesitate to say that I have acquired considerable information. It's a very