There's no harm in
her knowing what horrors she may be in for. When first I got an idea
that my brother had designs on you I thought of writing to you, to
recommend you, in the strongest terms, not to listen to him. Then I
thought it would be disloyal, and I hate anything of that kind.
Besides, as I say, I was enchanted for myself; and after all I'm
very selfish. By the way, you won't respect me, not one little mite,
and we shall never be intimate. I should like it, but you won't.
Some day, all the same, we shall be better friends than you will
believe at first. My husband will come and see you, though, as you
probably know, he's on no sort of terms with Osmond. He's very fond of
going to see pretty women, but I'm not afraid of you. In the first
place I don't care what he does. In the second, you won't care a straw
for him; he won't be a bit, at any time, your affair, and, stupid as
he is, he'll see you're not his. Some day, if you can stand it, I'll
tell you all about him. Do you think my niece ought to go out of the
room? Pansy, go and practise a little in my boudoir."
"Let her stay, please," said Isabel. "I would rather hear nothing
that Pansy may not!"
CHAPTER 36
One afternoon of the autumn of 1876, toward dusk, a young man of
pleasing appearance rang at the door of a small apartment on the third
floor of an old Roman house.
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