Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/83

75 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 75 " Pshaw ! don't you believe it. I work when I am sick," cried her friend. Later, when she stepped into the boat, on joining the water-party, she remarked to Ealph that she sup- posed he hated her he would like to drown her. " Ah, no," said Ealph, " I keep my victims for a slower torture. And you would be such an interesting one ! " " Well, you do torture me, I may say that. But I shock all your prejudices ; that's one comfort." " My prejudices 1 I haven't a prejudice to bless myself with. There's intellectual poverty for you." " The more shame to you ; I have some delicious prejudices. Of course I spoil your flirtation, or whatever it is you call it, with your cousin ; but I don't care for that, for I render your cousin the service of drawing you out. She will see how thin you are." " Ah, do draw me out ! " Ralph exclaimed. " So few people will take the trouble." Miss Stackpole, in this undertaking, appeared to shrink from no trouble ; resorting largely, whenever the opportunity offered, to the natural expedient of interrogation. On the following day the weather was bad, and in the afternoon the young man, by way of providing in-door amusement, offered to show her the pictures. Henrietta strolled through the long gallery in his society, while he pointed out its principal ornaments and men- tioned the painters and subjects. Miss Stackpole looked at the pictures in perfect silence, committing herself to no opinion, and Ealph was gratified by the fact that she delivered herself of none of the little ready-made ejaculations of delight of which the visitors to Gardencourt were so frequ mtly lavish. This young lady, indeed, to do her justice, was but little addicted to the use of conventional phrases ; there was something earnest and inventive in her tone, which at times, in its brilliant deliberation, suggested a person of high culture speaking a foreign language. Ealph Touchett subsequently learned that she had at one time officiated as art-critic to a Transatlantic journal ; but she appeared, in spite of this fact, to carry in her pocket none of the small change of admiration. Suddenly, just after he had called her attention to a charming Constable, she turned and looked at him as if he himself had been a picture. " Do you always spend your time like this ? " she demanded. " I seldom spend it so agreeably." said Ealph. " Well, you know what I mean without any regular occu- pation." " Ah," sai'd Ealph, " I am the idlest man living."