Chapter 54 - Page 2

of the
window--as if there were anything to see! I didn't wish to move,
because Ralph 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 half an hour at the midday meal.
For this repast the two ladies faced each other at an abbreviated
table in the