The Portrait of a Lady Page #8

and I am nearer to you.

It may be a disagreeable proximity,

but it is one of our own deliberate making.

You don't like to be reminded of that, I know...

but I am perfectly willing, because...

because I believe we should accept the consequences of our actions...

and what I value most in life is the honour of the thing.

Oh! My dear.

Do tell me some amusing book to read.

Would this do me any good?

My cousin, Ralph Touchett, is dying.

Oh... He was so simpatico.

I'm awfully sorry for you.

You look very badly.

Osmond says it's impossible I should go to England.

And why does Osmond say it's impossible?

Because we're so happy together...

that we can't separate, even for a fortnight.

You're very unhappy.

Yes.

But I don't think you can comfort me.

Will you give me leave to try?

There is something I want you to know.

Perhaps you do. Perhaps you've guessed it.

Oh, in your place I should have guessed it ages ago.

Have you never really suspected?

Suspected what?

My first sister-in-law had no children.

The poor woman was married hardly three years and died childless.

Pansy's not my husband's child, then?

Oh, your husband's in perfection, but not his wife's.

Oh, my dear Isabel, with you, one must dot one's i's.

Whose child?

Oh, she's been wonderfully clever, magnificent about Pansy.

Had it never occurred to you...

that Serena Merle was for six or seven years his lover?

[SOBBING]

At last you understand.

[SERENA AND NUNS SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Nun:
Si.

You're surprised to find me here.

And I'm afraid you're not pleased.

I confess I've been indiscreet, I ought to have asked permission.

I came to see Pansy.

It occurred to me this afternoon that she must be rather lonely.

That it's a little dismal.

So I came, on...

the chance...

[NUN SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Don't you think I've made it pretty?

Yes. It seems... it seems comfortable.

I've come to bid you goodbye.

I'm going to England.

Not to come back?

My cousin is very ill.

Don't leave me here.

Will you come with me now?

Did Paptell you to ask me that?

No. It's my own proposal.

I had better wait, then.

[CLEARS THROAT]

He thinks I have not had enough, but I have.

He wished me to think a little, and I have thought a great deal.

What have you thought?

That I must never displease Pap.

Grazie.

I found I wished to wait for you.

But it's not to talk about Pansy.

Are you very fond of your cousin?

- I don't understand you.

- It's hard to explain.

Your cousin once did you a great service. Have you...

never guessed it?

He made you rich.

He made me?

It was your uncle's money, but it was your cousin's idea.

He brought his father over to it.

I don't know why you say such things.

- I don't know how you know.

- I know nothing, but what I've guessed,

and I've guessed that.

At bottom, it's him you've to thank.

I believed it was you I had to thank.

[TRYING TO CLOSE CARRIAGE DOOR]

You're very unhappy, I know.

But I'm more so.

[THUNDER]

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS]

Hello. Isn't it wonderful she's come?

- How was the channel?

- Very fine.

No.

No, I believe it was very rough.

[DOGS BARKING]

Isabel:
Will he see me?

Can he speak to me?

You can try him.

- Is there really no hope?

- None whatsoever.

There never has been.

[MUTTERING]

It's very good of you to come.

I thought you would, but I wasn't sure.

I wasn't sure, either...

till I came.

With me it's all over.

Isabel...

[CRYING]

I wish it were over for you.

What is it you have done for me in leaving Rome?

What is it you did for me?

You did something once.

You know it.

Oh...

Ralph.

Keep me in your heart.

I shall be nearer to you than I've ever been.

I never thanked you.

I... I never spoke.

I never was what I should be.

Yet how could I know? I only know today...

because there are people less stupid than I.

Don't mind people.

Is it true?

That you've been stupid?

No.

He married me for the money.

I only want you to understand.

I always tried to keep you from understanding.

But that's all over.

Was he very bad about your coming?

He made it very hard for me...

but I don't care.

Here... with you...

I'm happier than I've been in a long time.

I want you to be happy.

To feel that I'm near you.

That I love you.

Why should there be pain?

That's not the deepest thing.

[SOBBING]

You must stay here.

Pain's deep...

but it... passes, after all.

- It's passing now.

- Oh...

But love remains.

I don't know why we should suffer so much,

perhaps I should find out.

[SOBBING]

Shh...

I don't believe...

I don't believe such a generous mistake as yours...

can hurt you for more than a little.

[LAUGHS]

And remember this...

that if you have been hated,

you've also been loved.

Oh, but, Isabel...

...adored.

Minister:
Man that is born of woman

has but a short time to live and is full of misery.

He cometh up and is cut down like a flower.

He fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth upon this day.

In the midst of life we are in death.

Of whom may we seek for succour but of thee, o Lord,

who for our sins art justly mispleased?

[BIRDS SINGING]

I adore him.

I adore him.

I adore him.

Oh. [GASPS]

You frightened me.

I wanted to see you alone.

So I've been waiting and, uh, walking about.

I don't wish to trouble you as I did in Rome.

That was no use. It only distressed you.

I knew I was wrong.

But I'm not wrong now.

It's very different now. I can help you.

How can you help me?

It was good when you made me come away with your cousin.

He was a good man. A fine man.

He told me how the case stands for you.

He explained everything.

He guessed my sentiments.

Do you know what he told me here the last time I saw him?

He said, "Do everything you can for her.

"Everything she'll let you."

You had no business to talk of me.

Why not?

Why not, when we talked in that way? He was dying.

It's too late to play a part.

Touchett knew and I knew what it cost you to come here.

It will cost you your life.

Give me one word of truth.

You're afraid to go back.

You're perfectly alone.

Now I want you to think of me.

- To think of you.

- Turn to me.

Why should you go back?

Why go through that ghastly form?

- To get away from you.

- I want to prevent that!

[BREATHING HARD]

If you'd only for once listen to me.

Why shouldn't we be happy?

Why? Why, when it's here before us? When it's so easy?

We can do absolutely as we please.

To whom under the sun do we owe anything?

I beg you to go away.

Don't say that, don't kill me.

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