The desire to
have something or other to show for his "parts"- to show somehow or
other- had been the dream of his youth; but as the years went on the
conditions attached to any marked proof of rarity had affected him
more and more as gross and detestable; like the swallowing of mugs
of beer to advertise what one could "stand." If an anonymous drawing
on a museum wall had been conscious and watchful it might have known
this peculiar pleasure of being at last and all of a sudden
identified- as from the hand of a great master- by the so high and
so unnoticed fact of style. His "style" was what the girl had
discovered with a little help; and now, beside herself enjoying it,
she should publish it to the world without his having any of the
trouble. She should do the thing for him, and he would not have waited
in vain.
Shortly before the time fixed in advance for her departure this
young lady received from Mrs. Touchett a telegram running as
follows: "Leave Florence 4th June for Bellaggio, and take you if you
have not other views. But can't wait if you dawdle in Rome." The
dawdling in Rome was very pleasant, but Isabel had different views,
and she let her aunt know she would immediately join her.
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