Madame Merle would remain with
Mrs. Touchett; she had left Rome for the summer and wouldn't care to
return. She professed herself delighted to be left at peace in
Florence; she had locked up her apartment and sent her cook home to
Palestrina. She urged Isabel, however, to assent to Ralph's
proposal, and assured her that a good introduction to Rome was not a
thing to be despised. Isabel in truth needed no urging, and the
party of four arranged its little journey. Mrs. Touchett, on this
occasion, had resigned herself to the absence of a duenna; we have
seen that she now inclined to the belief that her niece should stand
alone. One of Isabel's preparations consisted of her seeing Gilbert
Osmond before she started and mentioning her intention to him.
"I should like to be in Rome with you," he commented. "I should like
to see you on that wonderful ground."
She scarcely faltered. "You might come then."
"But you'll have a lot of people with you."
"Ah," Isabel admitted, "of course I shall not be alone."
For a moment he said nothing more. "You'll like it," he went on at
last. They've spoiled it, but you'll rave about it."
"Ought I to dislike it because, poor old dear- the Niobe of Nations,
you know- it has been spoiled?" she asked.
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