Her parting with Isabel was even more like the beginning of a
friendship than their meeting had been. "I'm going to six places in
succession, but I shall see no one I like so well as you. They'll
all be old friends, however; one doesn't make new friends at my age.
I've made a great exception for you. You must remember that and must
think as well of me as possible. You must reward me by believing in
me."
By way of answer Isabel kissed her, and, though some women kiss with
facility, there are kisses and kisses, and this embrace was
satisfactory to Madame Merle. Our young lady, after this, was much
alone; she saw her aunt and cousin only at meals, and discovered
that of the hours during which Mrs. Touchett was invisible only a
minor portion was now devoted to nursing her husband. She spent the
rest in her own apartments, to which access was not allowed even to
her niece, apparently occupied there with mysterious and inscrutable
exercises. At table she was grave and silent; but her solemnity was
not an attitude- Isabel could see it was a conviction. She wondered if
her aunt repented of having taken her own way so much; but there was
no visible evidence of this- no tears, no sighs, no exaggeration of
a zeal always to its own sense adequate.
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