"Henrietta will ask him to get into the cab and go with her to
Jermyn Street," Ralph observed. He always spoke of Miss Stackpole as
Henrietta.
"Very possibly," said his companion.
"Or rather, no, she won't," he went on. "But Bantling will ask leave
to get in."
"Very likely again. I'm very glad they're such good friends."
"She has made a conquest. He thinks her a brilliant woman. It may go
far," said Ralph.
Isabel was briefly silent. "I call Henrietta a very brilliant woman,
but I don't think it will go far. They would never really know each
other. He has not the least idea what she really is, and she has no
just comprehension of Mr. Bantling."
"There's no more usual basis of union than a mutual
misunderstanding. But it ought not to be so difficult to understand
Bob Bantling," Ralph added. "He is a very simple organism."
"Yes, but Henrietta's a simpler one still. And, pray, what am I to
do?" Isabel asked, looking about her through the fading light, in
which the limited landscape-gardening of the square took on a large
and effective appearance. "I don't imagine that you'll propose that
you and I, for our amusement, shall drive about London in a hansom.
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