He took it almost gaily. “You can’t draw back—you’ve gone too far.”
“Very good; but you must do the rest yourself.”
“I shall do it,” said Gilbert Osmond.
Madame Merle remained silent and he changed his place again; but when she rose to go he also took leave. Mrs. Touchett’s victoria was awaiting her guest in the court, and after he had helped his friend into it he stood there detaining her. “You’re very indiscreet,” she said rather wearily; “you shouldn’t have moved when I did.”
He had taken off his hat; he passed his hand over his forehead. “I always forget; I’m out of the habit.”
“You’re quite unfathomable,” she repeated, glancing up at the windows of the house, a modern structure in the new part of the town.
He paid no heed to this remark, but spoke in his own sense. “She’s really very charming. I’ve scarcely known any one more graceful.”
“It does me good to hear you say that. The better you like her the better for me.”
“I like her very much. She’s all you described her, and into the bargain capable, I feel, of great devotion. She has only one fault.”
“What’s that?”