"You don't accuse him of having deceived you; why should you accuse Madame Merle ?" "He never pretended he'd prevent it." "I'm glad of that!" cried Isabel gaily.

"I wish very much," she presently added, "that when he comes you'd tell him first of my engagement." "Of course I'll mention it," said Mrs.Touchett.

"I shall say nothing more to you about it, but I give you notice I shall talk to others." "That's as you please.

I only meant that it's rather better the announcement should come from you than from me." "I quite agree with you; it's much more proper!" And on this the aunt and the niece went to breakfast, where Mrs.Touchett, as good as her word, made no allusion to Gilbert Osmond.

After an interval of silence, however, she asked her companion from whom she had received a visit an hour before.
"From an old friend--an American gentleman," Isabel said with a colour in her cheek.
"An American gentleman of course.