seemed to be
sleeping and I was afraid the sound would disturb him. I waited till the
nurse came back. I remembered you knew the house."

"I find I know it better even than I thought; I've been walking
everywhere," Isabel answered. And then she asked if Ralph slept much.

"He lies with his eyes closed; he doesn't move. But I'm not sure that
it's always sleep."

"Will he see me? Can he speak to me?"

Mrs. Touchett declined the office of saying. "You can try him," was the
limit of her extravagance. And then she offered to conduct Isabel to her
room. "I thought they had taken you there; but it's not my house, it's
Ralph's; and I don't know what they do. They must at least have taken
your luggage; I don't suppose you've brought much. Not that I care,
however. I believe they've given you the same room you had before; when
Ralph heard you were coming he said you must have that one."

"Did he say anything else?"

"Ah, my dear, he doesn't chatter as he used!" cried Mrs. Touchett as she
preceded her niece up the staircase.

It was the same room, and something told Isabel it had not been slept
in since she occupied it. Her luggage was there and was not voluminous;
Mrs. Touchett sat down a moment with her eyes upon it. "Is there really
no hope?" our young woman asked as she stood before her.

"None whatever. There never has been. It has not been a successful
life."

"No--it has only been a beautiful one." Isabel found herself already
contradicting her aunt; she was irritated by her dryness.

"I don't know what you mean by that; there's no beauty without health.
That is a very odd dress to travel in."

Isabel glanced at her garment. "I left Rome at an hour's notice; I took
the first that came."

"Your sisters, in America, wished to know how you dress. That seemed to
be their principal interest. I wasn't able to tell them--but they seemed
to have the right idea: that you never wear anything less than black
brocade."

"They think I'm more brilliant than I am; I'm afraid to tell them the
truth," said Isabel. "Lily wrote me you had dined with her."

"She invited me four times, and I went once. After the second time she
should have let me alone. The dinner was very good; it must have been
expensive. Her husband has a very bad manner. Did I enjoy my visit to
America? Why should I have enjoyed it? I didn't go for my pleasure."

These were interesting items, but Mrs. Touchett soon left her niece,
whom she was to meet in