The Portrait of a Lady, vol 2 | Page 3

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Etext created by Eve Sobol, South Bend, Indiana, USA

The Portrait of a Lady
by Henry James

VOLUME II

CHAPTER XXVIII
On the morrow, in the evening, Lord Warburton went again to see his
friends at their hotel, and at this establishment he learned that they had
gone to the opera. He drove to the opera with the idea of paying them a
visit in their box after the easy Italian fashion; and when he had
obtained his admittance--it was one of the secondary theatres--looked
about the large, bare, ill-lighted house. An act had just terminated and
he was at liberty to pursue his quest. After scanning two or three tiers
of boxes he perceived in one of the largest of these receptacles a lady
whom he easily recognised. Miss Archer was seated facing the stage
and partly screened by the curtain of the box; and beside her, leaning
back in his chair, was Mr. Gilbert Osmond. They appeared to have the
place to themselves, and Warburton supposed their companions had
taken advantage of the recess to enjoy the relative coolness of the lobby.
He stood a while with his eyes on the interesting pair; he asked himself
if he should go up and interrupt the harmony. At last he judged that
Isabel had seen him, and this accident determined him. There should be
no marked holding off. He took his way to the upper regions and on the
staircase met Ralph Touchett slowly descending, his hat at the

inclination of ennui and his hands where they usually were.
"I saw you below a moment since and was going down to you. I feel
lonely and want company," was Ralph's greeting.
"You've some that's very good which you've yet deserted."
"Do you mean my cousin? Oh, she has a visitor and doesn't want me.
Then Miss Stackpole and Bantling have gone out to a cafe to eat an
ice--Miss Stackpole delights in an ice. I didn't think they wanted me
either. The opera's very bad; the women look like laundresses and sing
like peacocks. I feel very low."
"You had better go home," Lord Warburton said without affectation.
"And leave my young lady in this sad place? Ah no, I must watch over
her."
"She seems to have plenty of friends."
"Yes, that's why I must watch," said Ralph with the same large
mock-melancholy.