Isabel had developed less, however, than Lily had
thought likely- development, to Lily's understanding, being somehow
mysteriously connected with morning calls and evening-parties.
Intellectually, doubtless, she had made immense strides; but she
appeared to have achieved few of those social conquests of which
Mrs. Ludlow had expected to admire the trophies. Lily's conception
of such achievements was extremely vague; but this was exactly what
she had expected of Isabel-to give it form and body. Isabel could have
done as well as she had done in New York; and Mrs. Ludlow appealed
to her husband to know whether there was any privilege she enjoyed
in Europe which the society of that city might not offer her. We
know ourselves that Isabel had made conquests- whether inferior or not
to those she might have effected in her native land it would be a
delicate matter to decide; and it is not altogether with a feeling
of complacency that I again mention that she had not rendered these
honourable victories public. She had not told her sister the history
of Lord Warburton, nor had she given her a hint of Mr. Osmond's
state of mind; and she had had no better reason for her silence than
that she didn't wish to speak.
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