Pansy, however, in spite
of her simplicity, really did understand, and was glad that Lord
Warburton should talk to her, not about her partners and bouquets, but
about the state of Italy, the condition of the peasantry, the famous
grist-tax, the pellagra, his impressions of Roman society. She
looked at him, as she drew her needle through her tapestry, with sweet
submissive eyes, and when she lowered them she gave little quiet
oblique glances at his person, his hands, his feet, his clothes, as if
she were considering him. Even his person, Isabel might have
reminded her, was better than Mr. Rosier's. But Isabel contented
herself at such moments with wondering where this gentleman was; he
came no more at all to Palazzo Roccanera. It was surprising, as I say,
the hold it had taken of her-the idea of assisting her husband to be
pleased.
It was surprising for a variety of reasons which I shall presently
touch upon. On the evening I speak of, while Lord Warburton sat there,
she had been on the point of taking the great step of going out of the
room and leaving her companions alone. I say the great step, because
it was in this light that Gilbert Osmond would have regarded it, and
Isabel was trying as much as possible to take her husband's view.
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