are the greatest strokes!" Mrs.
Touchett reserved her opinion. "The girl's fortunate; I don't deny that.
But for the present she's simply stupefied."

"Do you mean that she doesn't know what to do with the money?"

"That, I think, she has hardly considered. She doesn't know what to
think about the matter at all. It has been as if a big gun were suddenly
fired off behind her; she's feeling herself to see if she be hurt. It's
but three days since she received a visit from the principal executor,
who came in person, very gallantly, to notify her. He told me afterwards
that when he had made his little speech she suddenly burst into tears.
The money's to remain in the affairs of the bank, and she's to draw the
interest."

Madame Merle shook her head with a wise and now quite benignant smile.
"How very delicious! After she has done that two or three times she'll
get used to it." Then after a silence, "What does your son think of it?"
she abruptly asked.

"He left England before the will was read--used up by his fatigue and
anxiety and hurrying off to the south. He's on his way to the Riviera
and I've not yet heard from him. But it's not likely he'll ever object
to anything done by his father."

"Didn't you say his own share had been cut down?"

"Only at his wish. I know that he urged his father to do something for
the people in America. He's not in the least addicted to looking after
number one."

"It depends upon whom he regards as number one!" said Madame Merle. And
she remained thoughtful a moment, her eyes bent on the floor.

"Am I not to see your happy niece?" she asked at last as she raised
them.

"You may see her; but you'll not be struck with her being happy. She
has looked as solemn, these three days, as a Cimabue Madonna!" And Mrs.
Touchett rang for a servant.

Isabel came in shortly after the footman had been sent to call her; and
Madame Merle thought, as she appeared, that Mrs. Touchett's comparison
had its force. The girl was pale and grave--an effect not mitigated by
her deeper mourning; but the smile of her brightest moments came into
her face as she saw Madame Merle, who went forward, laid her hand on our
heroine's shoulder and, after looking at her a moment, kissed her as if
she were returning the kiss she had received from her at Gardencourt.
This was the only allusion the visitor, in her great good taste, made
for the present to her young friend's inheritance.

Mrs. Touchett had no purpose of