It
would be a very delicate matter for another person to undertake to
administer the dose. With your cousin it will be different; he'll miss
his father immensely. But I should never presume to condole with Mr.
Ralph; we're not on those terms." Madame Merle had alluded more than
once to some undefined incongruity in her relations with Ralph
Touchett; so Isabel took this occasion of asking her if they were
not good friends.
"Perfectly, but he doesn't like me."
"What have you done to him?"
"Nothing whatever. But one has no need of a reason for that."
"For not liking you? I think one has need of a very good reason."
"You're very kind. Be sure you have one ready for the day you
begin."
"Begin to dislike you? I shall never begin."
"I hope not; because if you do you'll never end. That's the way with
your cousin; he doesn't get over it. It's an antipathy of nature- if I
can call it that when it's all on his side. I've nothing whatever
against him and don't bear him the least little grudge for not doing
me justice. Justice is all I want. However, one feels that he's a
gentleman and would never say anything underhand about one.
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