The Portrait of a Lady Page #6

Are you trying to quarrel with me?

No. I'm trying to live at peace.

An excellent resolve.

Your temper isn't good.

That's partly why I've not spoken about this business of my daughter's.

I was afraid I should encounter opposition.

I've sent little Rosier about his business.

You see, I believe my daughter only has to sit perfectly quiet...

to become Lady Warburton.

Perhaps she won't sit perfectly still.

If she loses Mr Rosier, she may jump up.

Pansy would like to be a great lady.

She wishes above all to please.

To please Mr Rosier, perhaps?

No. To please me.

Meantime, I should like our distinguished visitor to speak.

He has spoken.

He said it would be a great pleasure to believe she could care for him.

Why didn't you tell me that?

There was no opportunity.

You know how we live.

Why didn't he speak to me, then?

You should have patience.

Englishmen are shy.

This one's not, not when he made love to you.

I beg your pardon?

He was extremely so.

Oh, I see.

You must have a great deal of influence with him.

I'm sure the moment you really wish it, you can bring him to the point.

Well...

It lies in your hands.

I shall leave it there.

With a little goodwill, you may manage it.

Think that over. Hmm?

And remember how much I count on you.

It's all Pansy's.

It must be hers.

Yes. She gave it to me to hold.

May I hold it?

May I at least have a flower?

It's frightful what I'm doing for you.

Don't put it in your buttonhole, don't for the world.

You pity me.

But don't you pity her a little?

[WALTZ BEGINS]

Warburton:
She's promised to dance with me later.

Isabel:
I soppose you've engaged her for the cotillion.

Warburton:
No, I didn't ask her for that. It's a quadrille.

You're not clever.

I told her to keep the cotillion in case you should ask for it.

Poor little maid. Fancy that.

She didn't say. Of course I will, if you like.

If I like? Oh, you dance with her only because I like it.

I'm afraid I bore her.

She has a lot of young fellows on her book.

Please, let me understand.

Understand what?

You told me you'd like to marry my stepdaughter,

you've not forgotten it?

Forgotten it? No. I wrote to Mr Osmond this morning.

He didn't mention to me that he'd heard from you.

It's an awkward sort of letter to write.

Don't forget to send it.

Oh, most certainly.

Are you not dancing?

Certainly not, if I can't dance with her.

- You should leave, then.

- Not until she does.

Lord Warburton:
Who's your dismal friend?

He has a face a yard long.

He has reason.

- My husband won't listen to him.

- Oh, dear me.

He looked a well set-up young fellow.

You've a kind thought even for a rival.

A rival?

You don't mean that she cares for him?

Well, yes...

I think she does.

You told me that she would have no wish but her father's and that he favoured me.

I told you she had an immense wish to please her father.

That seems very proper.

Very proper...

but hardly the sort of feeling a man would wish to be indebted for a wife.

Why are you so unwilling, so... sceptical?

- You're the most wonderful dancer.

- Oh, thank you.

I want you to answer me a question.

It's about Lord Warburton.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Is...

Is he really in love?

Yes, I think, very much. I can make that out.

Oh.

You seem disappointed.

No...

No, only mistaken.

I'd made out that he doesn't really care for Pansy.

Oh, for Pansy, no.

But you just said now that he did.

That he cared for you.

- That is nonsense, you know.

- To me, he's denied it.

Ralph...

you give me no help.

How unhappy you must be.

When... When I talk of your helping me, I...

I-I talk great nonsense.

The idea of troubling you with my domestic embarrassments...

Your husband may think you haven't...

pushed enough.

It's a matter we can hardly quarrel about,

for almost all of the interest is on his side.

You know what his interest will make him say?

It will make him say that your lack of zeal is owing to jealousy.

- To jealousy?

- To jealousy of his daughter.

Oh, you're not kind.

Be frank with me, and you'll see.

If I try to learn what you want...

what you desire...

it's only so that I may act accordingly.

The only thing I want in life... is to marry Mr Rosier.

Your father would like you to make a better marriage.

What should you like me to do?

Lord Warburton...

has shown you great attention.

If you mean that he'll propose for me,

I think you're mistaken.

Your father would like it extremely.

Lord Warburton won't propose simply to please Pap

Oh, no. There's no danger.

There's no danger.

It's as if he said to me,

"I like you very much, but if it doesn't please you,

"I would never say it again."

And... he doesn't care for me, either.

Oh, no. There's no danger.

You must tell your father that.

I'd rather not.

You wouldn't let him have false hopes?

But it will be good for me that he should.

Then Pap won't propose anyone else...

and that will be a great advantage for me.

Rosier.

[WHISPERING] ROsier.

Does Warburton form his words with such difficulty?

Hmm?

When he told you he intended to write, what did you say to him?

I think I told him not to forget it.

Apparently, he has forgotten. Please remind him.

If hands are to be laid on Lord Warburton, lay them yourself.

It's hard with you working against me.

I told you I'd do what I could.

Yes, that gained you time.

My husband and I were just now talking of you.

We wondered what had become of you. We thought perhaps you'd gone away.

I'm only on the point of going.

I find myself suddenly recalled to England.

I'm awfully sorry to leave poor Touchett.

Take poor Touchett with you.

He'd better wait for warmer weather.

I shouldn't advise him to... to travel just now.

Hmm.

I have a letter to write before dinner. Will you excuse me?

Of course, when you come to Rome, you'll always look us up.

I'm glad it's the last time.

So am I.

She doesn't care for me.

[CLOCK CHIMES]

[CHIME]

[CHIME]

[CHIME]

[CHIME]

Good night, Pap

Good night. Sleep well.

Don't go. I have something to say to you.

I don't understand what you wish to do.

I wish to go to bed. I'm very tired.

I think you're trying to humiliate me.

You're playing a very deep game.

You've managed it beautifully.

What have I managed?

You've kept this matter quite in your own hands.

Will you tell me in the plainest words of what it is you accuse me?

Of having prevented Pansy's marriage to Warburton.

Are those words plain enough?

On the contrary, I took great interest in it.

When you counted on me, I accepted the obligation.

I was a fool, but I did it.

You pretended to do it.

Where is the letter you told me he'd written?

I haven't the least idea.

No, you destroyed it.

Oh, Gilbert, for a man who was so fine...

I was never so fine as you.

You've done everything that you wanted.

You got him out of the way without appearing to,

and you've placed me in the position in which you wish to see me.

As a man who tried to marry his daughter to a Lord,

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