But it
happened that she had met the day before, in Piccadilly, some
friends whom she had not seen for a year: the Miss Climbers, two
ladies from Wilmington, Delaware, who had been travelling on the
Continent and were now preparing to re-embark. Henrietta had had a
long interview with them on the Piccadilly pavement, and though the
three ladies all talked at once they had not exhausted their store. It
had been agreed therefore that Henrietta should come and dine with
them in their lodgings in Jermyn Street at six o'clock on the
morrow, and she now bethought herself of this engagement. She prepared
to start for Jermyn Street, taking leave first of Ralph Touchett and
Isabel, who, seated on garden chairs in another part of the enclosure,
were occupied- if the term may be used- with an exchange of
amenities less pointed than the practical colloquy of Miss Stackpole
and Mr. Bantling. When it had been settled between Isabel and her
friend that they should be reunited at some reputable hour at
Pratt's Hotel, Ralph remarked that the latter must have a cab. She
couldn't walk all the way to Jermyn Street.
"I suppose you mean it's improper for me to walk alone!" Henrietta
exclaimed.
Pages:
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252