While this exchange of pleasantries took place between the two Ralph Touchett wandered away a little, with his usual slouching gait, his hands in his pockets and his little rowdyish terrier at his heels. His face was turned toward the house, but his eyes were bent¹ musingly² on the lawn; so that he had been an object of observation to a person who had just made her appearance in the ample doorway³ for some moments before he perceived her. His attention was called to her by the conduct of his dog, who had suddenly darted⁴ forward with a little volley of shrill⁵ barks, in which the note of welcome, however, was more sensible than that of defiance⁶. The person in question was a young lady, who seemed immediately to interpret the greeting of the small beast. He advanced with great rapidity and stood at her feet, looking up and barking hard; whereupon, without hesitation⁷, she stooped and caught him in her hands, holding him face to face while he continued his quick chatter⁸. His master now had had time to follow and to see that Bunchie’s new friend was a tall girl in a black dress, who at first sight looked pretty. She was bareheaded, as if she were staying in the house — a fact which conveyed perplexity to the son of its master, conscious of that immunity⁹ from visitors which had for some time been rendered necessary by the latter’s ill-health. Meantime the two other gentlemen had also taken note of the new-comer.

 

“Dear me, who’s that strange woman?” Mr. Touchett had asked.

 

“Perhaps it’s Mrs. Touchett’s niece — the independent young lady,” Lord Warburton suggested. “I think she must be, from the way she handles the dog.”

分享到：