"I don't feel so just now. Still, I'm wise enough to think you had
better go. Good-night."
"God bless you!" said Gilbert Osmond, taking the hand which she
failed to surrender. After which he added: "If we meet again you'll
find me as you leave me. If we don't I shall be so all the same."
"Thank you very much. Good-bye."
There was something quietly firm about Isabel's visitor; he might go
of his own movement, but wouldn't be dismissed. "There's one thing
more. I haven't asked anything of you- not even a thought in the
future; you must do me that justice. But there's a little service I
should like to ask. I shall not return home for several days; Rome's
delightful, and it's a good place for a man in my state of mind. Oh, I
know you're sorry to leave it; but you're right to do what your aunt
wishes."
"She doesn't even wish it!" Isabel broke out strangely.
Osmond was apparently on the point of saying something that would
match these words, but he changed his mind and rejoined simply: "Ah
well, it's proper you should go with her, very proper. Do everything
that's proper; I go in for that. Excuse my being so patronizing.
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