The Portrait of a Lady Page #5

It's the largest thing I know.

He... he has the gentlest,

kindest, lightest spirit.

You've got hold of a false idea.

It's a pity, but I can't help it.

[COUGHING]

[CHILDREN SHOUTING IN PLAY]

Osmond:
They think I'm in love with your money.

Isabel:
How do you know what they think?

You've not told me they're pleased,

and if they had been, I should have had some sign of it.

I care for only one thing,

for you not having the shadow of a doubt.

You know I have not, not one shadow.

I have never in my life tried to earn a penny.

I ought to be less subject to suspicion...

than most people one sees grubbing.

I won't pretend I'm sorry you're rich, I'm delighted.

At moments I'd like to kneel by my uncle's grave and thank him.

It has made me better, loving you.

I'm not a failure, as I used to think.

I've succeeded in two things.

I am to marry the woman I adore,

and I've brought up my child in the old way.

We'll amuse ourselves making up some little life for her.

[BIRDS CRYING]

Man:
That's why I wanted your advice...

as an old friend of Miss Osmond's family.

What have you got besides your Spanish lace and Dresden teacups?

My collection's well thought of and I've a comfortable little fortune,

about 40,000 francs a year.

Miss Osmond and I can live beautifully on that.

Beautifully? No. Sufficiently, yes.

Her father can give you nothing.

He, uh, he lives like a rich man.

The money's his wife's.

She brought him a large fortune.

Mrs Osmond is fond of her stepdaughter, she may do something.

For a lovesick man, you have your wits about you.

No, she will probably prefer to keep her money for her own children.

Her own children? Surely she has none.

She may have yet.

She had a poor little boy who died almost two years ago.

I'm... very sorry.

Uh, she's a splendid woman.

I don't say your offer's to be jumped at,

but there might be a worse one.

Mr Osmond, however, will believe he can do better.

He can do better, perhaps,

but his daughter can do no better than marry the man she loves.

Well, she does, you know.

And, in the meanwhile, I'll say a word to Mrs Osmond.

No. No, don't set her going, or you'll spoil everything.

Her husband's sure to have other views.

I advise you not to multiply the points of difference between them.

Let the matter alone until I've taken a few soundings.

Let the matter alone?

But I'm in love!

Oh, you won't burn up.

[STRING QUARTET PLAYS]

[SERVANTS" OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Where is Pansy?

She has already come down.

[STRING QUARTET FINISHES]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Osmond:
I hate his proposal.

I let him see that. I was rude to him on purpose.

I'll tell him you'll think it over.

No! Don't do that, he'll hang on.

I hate talking with a donkey...

He's a gentleman.

He has a charming temper...

and, after all, a comfortable income.

It's misery, genteel misery.

It's not what I dreamed of for Pansy.

Fortunately, this doesn't find me unprepared.

It's what I educated her for.

It's all for this, that when a case like this should come up,

she should do what I prefer.

I've never been treated so. I don't know what's against me.

It's not how I'm considered. I could have married 2O times.

You're not rich enough for Pansy.

- She doesn't care about money.

- No. But her father does.

Oh, yes. Well, you would know that.

You're offended.

And now you'll never help me.

It's not that I won't...

I simply can't.

Osmond:
Isabel, I bring you an old friend.

Lord Warburton.

I've only just arrived this afternoon.

I knew you were at home on Thursdays, so... I came.

You see, the fame of your Thursdays has spread to England. Excuse me.

We're greatly flattered.

I'm really very glad to see you.

There's something I must tell you without further delay.

I've brought Ralph Touchett with me.

No, no, he's not here. He's at the hotel.

He was too tired to come.

Why has he come to Rome?

He's very far gone, Mrs Osmond.

He can't keep warm. And the further south we come, the colder he feels.

If you don't mind my saying,

it was the most extraordinary time for Mrs Touchett to go to America.

Do you know what your father said to me just now?

Don't speak so loud. Everyone will hear.

He says you've forgotten me.

No... I don't forget.

Everything's just the same?

Not the very same. Paps been terribly severe.

He forbids me to marry you.

Need you mind that?

I can't disobey Pap.

You sacrifice me like that?

I love you just as much.

What good will that do me?

Please don't talk any more. Pap said I was not to talk to you.

It's too much.

- May I introduce you to some people?

- Oh, no, please don't.

Unless it be to that young lady at the tea table.

She has a charming face.

That's my husband's daughter.

What a dear little maid.

- You must meet her.

- Oh, in a... in a moment.

I like looking at her from here.

You know... you've changed a bit.

Yes, a good deal.

I don't mean for the worse, of course.

And yet how can I say for the better?

[HACKING COUGH]

[CLEARING THROAT]

Oh.

[COUGHING]

[HACKING COUGH]

I think, after all, that I shan't go to Sicily.

Won't go to Sicily?

Where will you go?

I guess I won't go anywhere.

Do you mean to return to England?

Oh, dear, no.

- I'll stay in Rome.

- Warburton:
Rome won't do for you.

- Rome's too cold.

- It will have to do. I'll make it do.

Warburton:
I recommend that you try Sicily.

I can't try. I can't move further.

I can't face the journey. And I haven't a cousin in Sicily.

What does the doctor say?

[SIGHS] I haven't asked him, and I don't care a fig.

If I die here, you'll bury me.

You shan't die here.

Ralph:
I can't believe she's so cold.

She's utterly changed. It's Osmond.

[BEGGING ALMS IN ITALIAN]

I recommend that you get the doctor's consent all the same.

[SIGHS DEEPLY]

The doctor's consent would spoil it.

You're sacrificing your health to your curiosity, then?

I'm not interested in my health, I'm deeply interested in Mrs Osmond.

So am I.

Not as I once was.

[RALPH COUGHS]

[CLEARING THROAT]

Permit to ask whether it's to bring out that fact...

that you're so very civil to the little girl?

Does that strike you as ridiculous?

Of course, there's the difference in our ages... more than 20 years.

My dear Warburton... are you serious?

Perfectly serious... as far as I've got.

[SIGHS]

I'm glad.

And heaven help us how cheered up Osmond will be.

I say, don't spoil it. Do you judge she'll be pleased?

The girl? Delighted, surely.

No, no. I mean Mrs Osmond.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Lord Warburton was here?

Yes. He stayed half an hour.

Did he talk to Pansy?

He talked almost only to her.

It seems to me he's attentive.

Isn't that what you call it?

I don't call it anything. I'm waiting for you to give it a name.

Will you excuse us?

[SERVANT SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[DOOR CLOSES]

That's a consideration you don't always show.

I... I had determined this time to try and act as you'd like.

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