Henriettashowednosignsofbreakingdown。HerprospectshadbrightenedonherleavingEngland，andshewasnowinthefullenjoymentofhercopiousresources。Shehadindeedbeenobligedtosacrificeherhopeswithregardtotheinnerlife。thesocialquestion，ontheContinent，bristledwithdifficultiesevenmorenumerousthanthoseshehadencounteredinEngland。ButontheContinenttherewastheouterlife，whichwaspalpableandvisibleateveryturn，andmoreeasilyconvertibletoliteraryusesthanthecustomsofthoseopaqueislanders。Outofdoorsinforeignlands，assheingeniouslyremarked，oneseemedtoseetherightsideofthetapestry。outofdoorsinEnglandoneseemedtoseethewrongside，whichgaveonenonotionofthefigure。Theadmissioncostsherhistorianapang，butHenrietta，despairingofmoreoccultthings，wasnowpayingmuchattentiontotheouterlife。ShehadbeenstudyingitfortwomonthsatVenice，fromwhichcityshesenttotheIntervieweraconscientiousaccountofthegondolas，thePiazza，theBridgeofSighs，thepigeonsandtheyoungboatmanwhochantedTasso。TheInterviewerwasperhapsdisappointed，butHenriettawasatleastseeingEurope。HerpresentpurposewastogetdowntoRomebeforethemalariashouldcomeon-heapparentlysupposedthatitbeganonafixedday。andwiththisdesignshewastospendatpresentbutfewdaysinFlorence。Mr。BantlingwastogowithhertoRome，andshepointedouttoIsabelthatashehadbeentherebefore，ashewasamilitarymanandashehadhadaclassicaleducation-hehadbeenbredatEton，wheretheystudynothingbutLatinandWhyte-Melville，saidMissStackpole-hewouldbeamostusefulcompanioninthecityoftheCaesars。AtthisjunctureRalphhadthehappyideaofproposingtoIsabelthatshealso，underhisownescort，shouldmakeapilgrimagetoRome。Sheexpectedtopassaportionofthenextwinterthere-thatwasverywell。butmeantimetherewasnoharminsurveyingthefield。ThereweretendaysleftofthebeautifulmonthofMay-themostpreciousmonthofalltothetrueRomelover。
IsabelwouldbecomeaRome-lover。thatwasaforegoneconclusion。
Shewasprovidedwithatrustycompanionofherownsex，whosesociety，thankstothefactofothercallsonthislady’sattention，wouldprobablynotbeoppressive。MadameMerlewouldremainwithMrs。Touchett。shehadleftRomeforthesummerandwouldn’tcaretoreturn。SheprofessedherselfdelightedtobeleftatpeaceinFlorence。shehadlockedupherapartmentandsenthercookhometoPalestrina。SheurgedIsabel，however，toassenttoRalph’sproposal，andassuredherthatagoodintroductiontoRomewasnotathingtobedespised。Isabelintruthneedednourging，andthepartyoffourarrangeditslittlejourney。Mrs。Touchett，onthisoccasion，hadresignedherselftotheabsenceofaduenna。wehaveseenthatshenowinclinedtothebeliefthathernieceshouldstandalone。OneofIsabel’spreparationsconsistedofherseeingGilbertOsmondbeforeshestartedandmentioningherintentiontohim。
IshouldliketobeinRomewithyou，hecommented。Ishouldliketoseeyouonthatwonderfulground。
Shescarcelyfaltered。Youmightcomethen。