"You were very wrong about Lord Warburton," she remarked to the
Countess. "I think it right you should know that."

"About his making love to Isabel? My poor lady, he was at her
house three times a day. He has left traces of his passage!" the
Countess cried.

"He wished to marry your niece; that's why he came to the house."

The Countess stared, and then with an inconsiderate laugh: "Is
that the story that Isabel tells? It isn't bad, as such things
go. If he wishes to marry my niece, pray why doesn't he do it?
Perhaps he has gone to buy the wedding-ring and will come back
with it next month, after I'm gone."

"No, he'll not come back. Miss Osmond doesn't wish to marry him."

"She's very accommodating! I knew she was fond of Isabel, but I
didn't know she carried it so far."

"I don't understand you," said Henrietta coldly, and reflecting
that the Countess was unpleasantly perverse. "I really must stick
to my point--that Isabel never encouraged the attentions of Lord
Warburton."

"My dear friend, what do you and I know about it? All we know is
that my brother's capable of everything."

"I don't know what your brother's capable of," said Henrietta
with dignity.