Isabel assured
her she should delight to listen to one, and reminded her more than
once of this engagement. Madame Merle, however, begged repeatedly
for a respite, and at last frankly told her young companion that
they must wait till they knew each other better. This would be sure to
happen; a long friendship so visibly lay before them. Isabel assented,
but at the same time enquired if she mightn't be trusted- if she
appeared capable of a betrayal of confidence.
"It's not that I'm afraid of your repeating what I say," her
fellow visitor answered; "I'm afraid, on the contrary, of your
taking it too much to yourself. You'd judge me too harshly; you're
of the cruel age." She preferred for the present to talk to Isabel
of Isabel, and exhibited the greatest interest in our heroine's
history, sentiments, opinions, prospects. She made her chatter and
listened to her chatter infinite good nature. This flattered and
quickened the girl, who was struck with all the distinguished people
her friend had known and with her having lived, as Mrs. Touchett said,
in the best company in Europe. Isabel thought the better of herself
for enjoying the favour of a person who had so large a field of
comparison; and it was perhaps partly to gratify the sense of
profiting by comparison that she often appealed to these stores of
reminiscence.
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