Henry James

The Portrait of a Lady Henry James

On the morrow, in the evening, Lord Warburton went again to see his friends at theirhotel, and at this establishment he learned that they had gone to the opera. He drove to theopera with the idea of paying them a visit in their box after the easy Italian fashion; andwhen he had obtained his admittance-it was one of the secondary theatres-looked aboutthe large, bare, ill-lighted house. An act had just terminated and he was at liberty to pursuehis quest. After scanning two or three tiers of boxes he perceived in one of the largest ofthese receptacles a lady whom he easily recognised. Miss Archer was seated facing thestage and partly screened by the curtain of the box; and beside her, leaning back in hischair, was Mr. Gilbert Osmond. They appeared to have the place to themselves, andWarburton supposed their companions had taken advantage of the recess to enjoy therelative coolness of the lobby. He stood a while with his eyes on the interesting pair; heasked himself if he should go up and interrupt the harmony. At last he judged that Isabelhad seen him, and this accident determined him. There should be no marked holding off. Hetook his way to the upper regions and on the staircase met Ralph Touchett slowlydescending, 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 wantcompany," 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 Stackpoleand Bantling have gone out to a cafe to eat an ice-Miss Stackpole delights in an ice. I didn'tthink they wanted me either. The opera's very bad; the women look like laundresses andsing 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."If she doesn't want you it's probable she doesn't want me.""No, you're different. Go to the box and stay there while I walk about."