"I was thinking of you a little," said Isabel.
"A little? I don't understand. If the knowledge of what I feel for
you had any weight with you at all, calling it a 'little' is a poor
account of it."
Isabel shook her head as if to carry off a blunder. "I've refused
a most kind, noble gentleman. Make the most of that."
"I thank you then," said Caspar Goodwood gravely. "I thank you
immensely."
"And now you had better go home."
"May I not see you again?" he asked.
"I think it's better not. You'll be sure to talk of this, and you
see it leads to nothing."
"I promise you not to say a word that will annoy you."
Isabel reflected and then answered: "I return in a day or two to
my uncle's, and I can't propose to you to come there. It would be
too inconsistent."
Caspar Goodwood, on his side, considered. "You must do me justice
too. I received an invitation to your uncle's more than a week ago,
and I declined it."
She betrayed surprise. "From whom was your invitation?"
"From Mr. Ralph Touchett, whom I suppose to be your cousin. I
declined it because I had not your authorization to accept it. The
suggestion that Mr.
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