I suppose I
ought to tell my aunt; but it seems best to tell you first."
The old man expressed no surprise, but thanked her for the
confidence she showed him.
"Do you mind telling me whether you accepted him?" he then enquired.
"I've not answered him definitely yet; I've taken a little time to
think of it, because that seems more respectful. But I shall not
accept him."
Mr. Touchett made no comment upon this; he had the air of thinking
that, whatever interest he might take in the matter from the point
of view of sociability, he had no active voice in it. "Well, I told
you you'd be a success over here. Americans are highly appreciated."
"Very highly indeed," said Isabel. "But at the cost of seeming
both tasteless and ungrateful, I don't think I can marry Lord
Warburton."
"Well," her uncle went on, "of course an old man can't judge for a
young lady. I'm glad you didn't ask me before you made up your mind. I
suppose I ought to tell you," he added slowly, but as it were not of
much consequence, "that I've known all about it these three days."
"About Lord Warburton's state of mind?"
"About his intentions, as they say here.
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