wish to say you don't like Mr. Osmond, and yet you're afraid."

"Willing to wound and yet afraid to strike? I'm willing to wound HIM,
yes--but not to wound you. I'm afraid of you, not of him. If you marry
him it won't be a fortunate way for me to have spoken."

"IF I marry him! Have you had any expectation of dissuading me?"

"Of course that seems to you too fatuous."

"No," said Isabel after a little; "it seems to me too touching."

"That's the same thing. It makes me so ridiculous that you pity me."

She stroked out her long gloves again. "I know you've a great affection
for me. I can't get rid of that."

"For heaven's sake don't try. Keep that well in sight. It will convince
you how intensely I want you to do well."

"And how little you trust me!"

There was a moment's silence; the warm noontide seemed to listen. "I
trust you, but I don't trust him," said Ralph.

She raised her eyes and gave him a wide, deep look. "You've said it now,
and I'm glad you've made it so clear. But you'll suffer by it."

"Not if you're just."

"I'm very just," said Isabel. "What better proof of it can there be than
that I'm not angry with you? I don't know what's the matter with me, but
I'm not. I was when you began, but it has passed away. Perhaps I ought
to be angry, but Mr. Osmond wouldn't think so. He wants me to know
everything; that's what I like him for. You've nothing to gain, I know
that. I've never been so nice to you, as a girl, that you should have
much reason for wishing me to remain one. You give very good advice;
you've often done so. No, I'm very quiet; I've always believed in your
wisdom," she went on, boasting of her quietness, yet speaking with a
kind of contained exaltation. It was her passionate desire to be
just; it touched Ralph to the heart, affected him like a caress from a
creature he had injured. He wished to interrupt, to reassure her; for a
moment he was absurdly inconsistent; he would have retracted what he had
said. But she gave him no chance; she went on, having caught a glimpse,
as she thought, of the heroic line and desiring to advance in that
direction. "I see you've some special idea; I should like very much to
hear it. I'm sure it's disinterested; I feel that. It seems a strange
thing to argue about, and of course I ought to tell you definitely that
if you expect to dissuade me you may give it up. You'll not move me
an inch; it's too late. As you say, I'm caught. Certainly it won't be
pleas