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Henry James: Portrait of a Lady She directed their course back to the library while the visitor continued to look at her. 'You seem to have plenty of other rooms; they're in rather better condition. But everything's immensely worn.''Have you come to look at the house?' Isabel asked. 'The servant will show it to you.' 'Send her away; I don't want to buy it. She has probably gone to look for you and is wandering about upstairs; she didn't seem at all intelligent. You had better tell her it's no matter.' And then, since the girl stood there hesitating and wondering, this unexpected critic said to her abruptly: 'I suppose you're one of the daughters?' Isabel thought she had very strange manners. 'It depends upon whose daughters you mean.' 'The late Mr. Archer's -- and my poor sister's.' 'Ah,' said Isabel slowly, 'you must be our crazy Aunt Lydia!' |