Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/85

77 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 77 " Haven't you got any 1 " " I had one a few days ago, but I have lost it since." "You are not serious," Miss Stackpole remarked; "that's what's the matter with you." But for all this, in a day or two she again permitted him to fix her attention, and on this occasion assigned a different cause to her mysterious perversity. " I know what's the matter with you, Mr. Touchett," she said. " You think you are too good to get married." " I thought so till I knew you, Miss Stackpole," Kalph answered; "and then I suddenly changed my mind." " Oh, pshaw ! " Henrietta exclaimed impatiently. " Then it seemed to me," said Ralph, " that I was not good enough." " It would improve you. Besides, it's your duty." " Ah," cried the young man, " one has so many duties ! Is that a duty too 1 " " Of course it is did you never know that before 1 It's every one's duty to get married." Ralph meditated a moment ; he was disappointed. There was something in Miss Stackpole he had begun to like ; it seemed to him that if she was not a charming woman she was at least a very good fellow. She was wanting in distinction, but, as Isabel had said, she was brave, and there is always something fine about that. He had not supposed her to be capable of vulgar arts ; but these last words struck him as a false note. When a marriageable young woman urges matrimony upon an unencumbered young man, the most obvious explana- tion of her conduct is not the altruistic impulse. " Ah, well now, there is a good deal to be said about that," Ralph rejoined. " There may be, but that is the principal thing. I must say I think it looks very exclusive, going round all alone, as if you thought no woman was good enough for you. Do you think you are better than any one else in the world 1 In America it's usual for people to marry." " If it's my duty," Ralph asked, " is it not, by analogy, yours as well 1 " Miss Stackpole's brilliant eyes expanded still further. " Have you the fond hope of finding a flaw in my reason- ing 1 Of course I have got as good a right to marry as any one else." " Well then," said Ralph, " I won't say it vexes me to see you single. It delights me rather." " You are not serious yet. You never will be."