The Portrait of A Lady by Henry James Read Free Book Online
Authors: Henry James
are a great many others.ââ
ââThere are many much better ones.ââ
ââDonât say that, my son!ââ the old man protested. ââThere is nothing better than this.ââ
ââI have got a very good one; I think in some respects itâs rather better,ââ said Lord Warburton, who as yet had not spoken but who had kept an attentive eye upon Miss Archer. He bent towards her a little, smiling; he had an excellent manner with women. The girl appreciated it in an instant; she had not forgotten that this was Lord Warburton. ââI should like very much to show it to you,ââ he added.
ââDonât believe him,ââ cried the old man; ââdonât look at it! Itâs a wretched old barrackânot to be compared with this.ââ
ââI donât knowâI canât judge,ââ said the girl, smiling at Lord Warburton.
In this discussion, Ralph Touchett took no interest whatever; he stood with his hands in his pockets, looking greatly as if he should like to renew his conversation with his newfound cousin.
ââAre you very fond of dogs?ââ he inquired, by way of beginning; and it was an awkward beginning for a clever man.
ââVery fond of them indeed.ââ
ââYou must keep the terrier, you know,ââ he went on, still awkwardly.
ââI will keep him while I am here, with pleasure.ââ
ââThat will be for a long time, I hope.ââ
ââYou are very kind. I hardly know. My aunt must settle that.ââ
ââI will settle it with herâat a quarter to seven.ââ And Ralph looked at his watch again.
ââI am glad to be here at all,ââ said the girl.
ââI donât believe you allow things to be settled for you.ââ
ââOh yes; if they are settled as I like them.ââ
ââI shall settle this as I like it,ââ said Ralph. ââItâs most unaccountable that we should never have known you.ââ
ââI was thereâyou had only to come and see me.ââ
ââThere? Where do you mean?ââ
ââIn the United States: in New York, and Albany, and other places.ââ
ââI have been thereâall over, but I never saw you. I canât make it out.ââ
Miss Archer hesitated a moment.
ââIt was because there had been some disagreement between your mother and my father, after my motherâs death, which took place when I was a child. In consequence of it, we never expected to see you.ââ
ââAh, but I donât embrace all my motherâs quarrelsâ Heaven forbid!ââ the young man cried. ââYou have lately lost your father?ââ he went on, more gravely.
ââYes; more than a year ago. After that my aunt was very kind to me; she came to see me, and proposed that I should come to Europe.ââ
ââI see,ââ said Ralph. ââShe has adopted you.ââ
ââAdopted me?ââ The girl stared, and her blush came back to her, together with a momentary look of pain, which gave her interlocutor some alarm. He had underestimated the effect of his words. Lord Warburton, who appeared constantly desirous of a nearer view of Miss Archer, strolled toward the two cousins at the moment, and as he did so, she rested her startled eyes upon him. ââOh, no; she has not adopted me,ââ she said. ââI am not a candidate for adoption.ââ
ââI beg a thousand pardons,ââ Ralph murmured. ââI meantâI meantâââ He hardly knew what he meant.
ââYou meant she has taken me up. Yes; she likes to take people up. She has been very kind to me; but,ââ she
ââThere are many much better ones.ââ
ââDonât say that, my son!ââ the old man protested. ââThere is nothing better than this.ââ
ââI have got a very good one; I think in some respects itâs rather better,ââ said Lord Warburton, who as yet had not spoken but who had kept an attentive eye upon Miss Archer. He bent towards her a little, smiling; he had an excellent manner with women. The girl appreciated it in an instant; she had not forgotten that this was Lord Warburton. ââI should like very much to show it to you,ââ he added.
ââDonât believe him,ââ cried the old man; ââdonât look at it! Itâs a wretched old barrackânot to be compared with this.ââ
ââI donât knowâI canât judge,ââ said the girl, smiling at Lord Warburton.
In this discussion, Ralph Touchett took no interest whatever; he stood with his hands in his pockets, looking greatly as if he should like to renew his conversation with his newfound cousin.
ââAre you very fond of dogs?ââ he inquired, by way of beginning; and it was an awkward beginning for a clever man.
ââVery fond of them indeed.ââ
ââYou must keep the terrier, you know,ââ he went on, still awkwardly.
ââI will keep him while I am here, with pleasure.ââ
ââThat will be for a long time, I hope.ââ
ââYou are very kind. I hardly know. My aunt must settle that.ââ
ââI will settle it with herâat a quarter to seven.ââ And Ralph looked at his watch again.
ââI am glad to be here at all,ââ said the girl.
ââI donât believe you allow things to be settled for you.ââ
ââOh yes; if they are settled as I like them.ââ
ââI shall settle this as I like it,ââ said Ralph. ââItâs most unaccountable that we should never have known you.ââ
ââI was thereâyou had only to come and see me.ââ
ââThere? Where do you mean?ââ
ââIn the United States: in New York, and Albany, and other places.ââ
ââI have been thereâall over, but I never saw you. I canât make it out.ââ
Miss Archer hesitated a moment.
ââIt was because there had been some disagreement between your mother and my father, after my motherâs death, which took place when I was a child. In consequence of it, we never expected to see you.ââ
ââAh, but I donât embrace all my motherâs quarrelsâ Heaven forbid!ââ the young man cried. ââYou have lately lost your father?ââ he went on, more gravely.
ââYes; more than a year ago. After that my aunt was very kind to me; she came to see me, and proposed that I should come to Europe.ââ
ââI see,ââ said Ralph. ââShe has adopted you.ââ
ââAdopted me?ââ The girl stared, and her blush came back to her, together with a momentary look of pain, which gave her interlocutor some alarm. He had underestimated the effect of his words. Lord Warburton, who appeared constantly desirous of a nearer view of Miss Archer, strolled toward the two cousins at the moment, and as he did so, she rested her startled eyes upon him. ââOh, no; she has not adopted me,ââ she said. ââI am not a candidate for adoption.ââ
ââI beg a thousand pardons,ââ Ralph murmured. ââI meantâI meantâââ He hardly knew what he meant.
ââYou meant she has taken me up. Yes; she likes to take people up. She has been very kind to me; but,ââ she
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