I suppose one of the
reasons I like it was that it was all about you; that is all except
the part that was about himself. I suppose he told you all that."
"He would have told me everything I wished to ask him," Isabel said.
"But you didn't feel curious?"
"My curiosity would have been idle- once I had determined to decline
his offer."
"You didn't find it sufficiently attractive?" Mr. Touchett enquired.
She was silent a little. "I suppose it was that," she presently
admitted. "But I don't know why."
"Fortunately ladies are not obliged to give reasons," said her
uncle. "There's a great deal that's attractive about such an idea; but
I don't see why the English should want to entice us away from our
native land. I know that we try to attract them over there, but that's
because our population is insufficient. Here, you know, they're rather
crowded. However, I presume there's room for charming young ladies
everywhere."
"There seems to have been room here for you," said Isabel, whose
eyes had been wandering over the large pleasure-spaces of the park.
Mr. Touchett gave a shrewd, conscious smile. "There's room
everywhere, my dear, if you'll pay for it.
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