The Portrait of a Lady Page #3

She's made for the world.

Nothing's settled yet.

- Buon giorno.

- Buon giorno.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN] Si.

It's only the colour that's different, Mama.

There are just as many in one bunch as in the other.

Grazie.

Is there someone here?

Yes, there is. Someone you may see.

- Madame Merle.

- I've come to welcome you home.

May I not go to the carriage?

It would please me better if you'd remain with me.

I do hope they see that you wear gloves.

Little girls usually dislike them.

I used to dislike them, but I like them now.

I'll make you a present of a dozen.

- And will they be very pretty?

- Not too pretty.

She's going to give me some gloves.

You're very kind to her. But she's supposed to have everything she needs.

I'd think she's had enough of the nuns.

If we're discussing that matter, she'd better go out of the room.

Let her stay. We'll talk of something else.

Go into the garden, mignonne, and pluck a flower for our friend?

That's just what I want to do.

[DOOR CLOSES]

There's something I should like you to do in Florence.

There's a friend of mine I want you to know.

What good will that do me?

It will amuse you.

[FAKE LAUGH]

Oh, if only I could induce you to make an effort.

Ah, I knew something tiresome was coming.

What in the world that's likely to show up here is worth an effort?

Don't be foolish, Osmond.

The person I came to Florence to see.

She's a niece of Mrs Touchett.

She's young, 23 years old. I met her in England six months ago.

I like her immensely.

And I do what I don't do every day, I...

admire her.

You'll do the same.

Not if I can help it.

You won't be able to help it.

Is she beautiful, clever, rich, splendid,

universally intelligent, unprecedentedly virtuous?

It's only on those conditions that I care to make her acquaintance.

I know plenty of dingy people. I don't want to know any more.

Miss Archer isn't dingy.

She fills all your requirements.

More or less, of course.

No. Quite literally.

What do you want to do with her?

What you see. Put her in your way.

Isn't she meant for something better than that?

I don't pretend to know what people are meant for.

I only know what I can do with them.

I'm sorry for Miss Archer.

If that's the beginning of interest in her, I take note of it.

You're looking very well.

You never look so well as when you've got an idea.

They're always becoming to you.

I wish very much you were not so heartless.

It's always been against you, and it will be against you now.

I'm not so heartless as you think.

Every now and then something... touches me.

As for instance, your ambitions for me.

Why would you think Mrs Touchett's niece should matter to me when...

...I myself have mattered so little?

That is not what I meant to say, of course.

When I have known and appreciated such a woman as you.

Isabel Archer is better than I.

Have you seen my latest?

Isn't that one of last year's sketches?

The one you did in Spain?

I've made improvements since then.

I don't care for your drawings.

They're much better than other peoples'.

But as the only thing you do, it's so little.

I should have liked you to do so many other things. I had my ambitions.

- Things that were impossible.

- Things that were impossible.

Your room, at least, is perfect.

I'm struck with that afresh whenever I come back here.

You've such adorable taste.

I'm sick of my adorable taste.

You must let Miss Archer come and see it.

As cicerone of your museum, you appear to particular advantage.

Did you say she was rich?

There's no doubt whatever about her fortune.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[BELL RINGS]

Do you think it good for me to be made so rich?

Henrietta doesn't.

Oh, hang Henrietta. If you ask me, I'm delighted at it.

Did you know your father intended to leave me so much money?

What does it matter? My father was very obstinate.

So you did know?

Yes, he told me.

How did he know I'll make good uses of a large fortune?

How did he know I'm not weak?

Don't ask yourself so much whether this or that is good for you.

Live as you like best, and your character will take care of itself.

I wonder if you know what you say.

If you do, you take a great responsibility.

[GIGGLES]

[BELL RINGS]

The facade is 16th century, but the interior is much older.

[WOMAN SPEAKING ITALIAN]

I must tell you that Osmond doesn't often invite me.

It was quite my own idea, coming today.

I like to see new people, and I'm sure you're very new.

Oh! But don't sit there.

That chair's not what it looks.

There are very good seats here, but there are also some horrors. Pipi.

Isabel:
I don't see any horrors anywhere.

Everything seems to me beautiful and precious.

Thank you. I've a few good things.

Indeed, I've nothing very bad.

Poor Osmond with his old curtains and crucifixes.

Won't you have some tea? You must be very tired.

No, I'm not tired. What have I done to tire me?

You'll be tired when you go home

if he shows you all his bibelots...

and gives you a lecture on each.

Then I'll have learned something.

Oh, well, for me, one should like a thing or not,

but one shouldn't try to reason it out.

Some very good feelings...

may have very bad reasons, don't you know?

It's a lovely day. Shall we go for a walk?

Oh! And then there are some very bad feelings that have very good reasons.

This hill of my brother's is impossible.

It's terrible to hear one's horses wheeze.

What do you think of my sister?

Don't ask me that, I-I...

I've seen your sister too little.

Yes, it's true, you've seen her very little,

but I should like to know how she strikes a fresh, unprejudiced mind.

I sometimes think we've gotten into a rather bad way,

living here amongst people and things not our own.

My sister's rather unhappy, and as she's not of a serious turn,

she doesn't tend to show it tragically, but comically instead.

Shall I take that painting down? You'll want more light.

This is one of the first paintings I bought when I came to Italy.

I've seen the girl but this once, I like her very much.

So do I.

You have a strange way of showing it.

I advise you not to agitate yourself.

The matter concerns three persons stronger in purpose than yourself.

Three persons? You and Osmond, of course.

But is Miss Archer also very strong?

Quite as much so as we.

You're capable of anything, you and Osmond.

- You're dangerous.

- Better leave us alone, then.

Madame Merle spoke of you having some plan of going around the world?

I'm rather ashamed of my plans.

I make a new one every day.

I don't think you should be ashamed. It's the greatest of pleasures.

I made a plan years ago and I'm acting on it today.

Must have been a very pleasant one.

Mmm, it was. Very simple.

It was to be as quiet as possible.

As quiet?

Not to worry, not to strive nor struggle.

To content myself with little.

I've spent many years here on that plan,

and been not at all unhappy.

It polishes me up a bit to talk to you.

But you'll be gone before I see you three times.

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