where,--no one, not even Pansy, knew where,--reappeared in Rome
and began to write her long letters, which she never answered. Madame
Merle returned from Naples and said to her with a strange smile: "What
on earth did you do with Lord Warburton?" As if it were any business of
hers!

CHAPTER XLVIII

One day, toward the end of February, Ralph Touchett made up his mind to
return to England. He had his own reasons for this decision, which
he was not bound to communicate; but Henrietta Stackpole, to whom he
mentioned his intention, flattered herself that she guessed them. She
forbore to express them, however; she only said, after a moment, as she
sat by his sofa: "I suppose you know you can't go alone?"

"I've no idea of doing that," Ralph answered. "I shall have people with
me."

"What do you mean by 'people'? Servants whom you pay?"

"Ah," said Ralph jocosely, "after all, they're human beings."

"Are there any women among them?" Miss Stackpole desired to know.

"You speak as if I had a dozen! No, I confess I haven't a soubrette in
my employment."

"Well," said Henrietta calmly, "you can't go to England that way. You
must have a woman's care."

"I've had so much of yours for the past fortnight that it will last me a
good while."

"You've not had enough of it yet. I guess I'll go with you," said
Henrietta.

"Go with me?" Ralph slowly raised himself from his sofa.

"Yes, I know you don't like me, but I'll go with you all the same. It
would be better for your health to lie down again."

Ralph looked at her a little; then he slowly relapsed. "I like you very
much," he said in a moment.

Miss Stackpole gave one of her infrequent laughs. "You needn't think
that by saying that you can buy me off. I'll go with you, and what is
more I'll take care of you."

"You're a very good woman," said Ralph.

"Wait till I get you safely home before you say that. It won't be easy.
But you had better go, all the same."

Before she left him, Ralph said to her: "Do you really mean to take care
of me?"

"Well, I mean to try."

"I notify you then that I submit. Oh, I submit!" And it was perhaps a
sign of submission that a few minutes after she had left him alone he
burst into a loud fit of laughter. It seemed to him so inconsequent,
such a conclusive proof of his having abdicated all functions and
renounced all exercise, that he should start on a journey across Europe
under the supervision of Miss Stackpole. And the gr