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404 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. to an unprotected woman. Nor could he wait until after she had gone, unless he should wait longer than he had patience for. It would not do to start the next day. She worried him ; she oppressed him ; the idea of spending the day in a European railway-carriage with her offered a complication of irritations. 'Still, she was a lady travelling alone ; it was his duty to put himself out for her. There could be no two questions about that ; it was a perfectly clear necessity. He looked extremely grave for some moments, and then he said, without any of the richness of gallantry, but in a tone of extreme distinctness " Of course, if you are going to-morrow, I will go too, as I may be of assistance to you." "Well, Mr. Goodwood, I should hope so!" Henrietta remarked, serenely. XLY. I HAVE already had reason to say that Isabel knew that her husband was displeased by the continuance of Ralph's visit to Rome. This knowledge was very present to her as she went to her cousin's hotel the day after she had invited Lord Warburton to give a tangible proof of his sincerity ; and at this moment, as at others, she had a sufficient perception of the sources of Osmond's displeasure. He wished her to have no freedom of mind, and he knew perfectly well that Ralph was an apostle of freedom. It was just because he was this, Isabel said to herself, that it was a refreshment to go and see him. It will be per- ceived that she partook of this refreshment in spite of her husband's disapproval ; that is, she partook of it, as she nattered herself, discreetly. She had not as yet undertaken to act in direct opposition to Osmond's wishes ; he was her master ; she gazed at moments with a sort of incredulous blankness at this fact. It weighed upon her imagination, however ; constantly present to her mind were all the traditionary decencies and sanctities of marriage. The idea of violating them tilled her with shame as well as with dread, for when she gave hers< If away she had lost sight of this contingency in the perfect belief that her husband's intentions were as generous as her own. She seemed to see, however, the rapid approach of the day when she should have to take back something that she had solemnly given. Such a ceremony would be odious and monstrous ; she tried to shut her eyes to it meanwhile. Osmond would do nothing to help it by beginning first ; he would put that burden upon her.