She talked of places, of people and even, as the phrase is, of
"subjects"; and from time to time she talked of their kind old host
and of the prospect of his recovery. From the first she had thought
this prospect small, and Isabel had been struck with the positive,
discriminating, competent way in which she took the measure of his
remainder of life. One evening she announced definitely that he
wouldn't live.
"Sir Matthew Hope told me so as plainly as was proper," she said;
"standing there, near the fire, before dinner. He makes himself very
agreeable, the great doctor. I don't mean his saying that has anything
to do with it. But he says such things with great tact. I had told him
I felt ill at my ease, staying here at such a time; it seemed to me so
indiscreet- it wasn't as if I could nurse. 'You must remain, you
must remain,' he answered; 'your office will come later.' Wasn't
that a very delicate way of saying both that poor Mr. Touchett would
go and that I might be of some use as a consoler? In fact, however,
I shall not be of the slightest use. Your aunt will console herself;
she, and she alone, knows just how much consolation she'll require.
Pages:
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346