Having made this excellent point he became quiet; but the next time that Ralph was with him he again addressed himself to conversation.The nurse had gone to her supper and Ralph was alone in charge, having just relieved Mrs.Touchett, who had been on guard since dinner.The room was lighted only by the flickering fire, which of late had become necessary, and Ralph's tall shadow was projected over wall and ceiling with an outline constantly varying but always grotesque.
"Who's that with me- is it my son?" the old man asked.
"Yes, it's your son, daddy."
"And is there no one else?"
"No one else."
Mr.Touchett said nothing for a while; and then, "I want to talk a little," he went on.
"Won't it tire you?" Ralph demurred.
"It won't matter if it does.I shall have a long rest.I want to talk about you.
Ralph had drawn nearer to the bed; he sat leaning forward with his hand on his father's."You had better select a brighter topic.""You were always bright; I used to be proud of your brightness.Ishould like so much to think you'd do something.""If you leave us," said Ralph, "I shall do nothing but miss you.""That's just what I don't want; it's what I want to talk about.
You must get a new interest."
"I don't want a new interest, daddy.I have more old ones than Iknow what to do with."
The old man lay there looking at his son; his face was the face of the dying, but his eyes were the eyes of Daniel Touchett.He seemed to be reckoning over Ralph's interests."Of course you have your mother,"he said at last."You'll take care of her.""My mother will always take care of herself," Ralph returned.
"Well," said his father, "perhaps as she grows older she'll need a little help.""I shall not see that.She'll outlive me.""Very likely she will; but that's no reason-!" Mr.Touchett let his phrase die away in a helpless but not quite querulous sigh and remained silent again.
"Don't trouble yourself about us," said his son."My mother and Iget on very well together, you know."
"You get on by always being apart; that's not natural.""If you leave us we shall probably see more of each other.""Well," the old man observed with wandering irrelevance, "it can't be said that my death will make much difference in your mother's life.""It will probably make more than you think.""Well, she'll have more money," said Mr.Touchett."I've left her a good wife's portion, just as if she had been a good wife.""She has been one, daddy, according to her own theory.She has never troubled you.""Ah, some troubles are pleasant," Mr.Touchett murmured."Those you've given me for instance.But your mother has been less- less-what shall I call it? less out of the way since I've been ill.Ipresume she knows I've noticed it."
"I shall certainly tell her so; I'm so glad you mention it.""It won't make any difference to her; she doesn't do it to please me.She does it to please- to please-" And he lay a while trying to think why she did it."She does it because it suits her.But that's not what I want to talk about," he added."It's about you.You'll be very well off.""Yes," said Ralph, "I know that.But I hope you've not forgotten the talk we had a year ago- when I told you exactly what money I should need and begged you to make some good use of the rest.""Yes, yes, I remember.I made a new will- in a few days.I suppose it was the first time such a thing had happened- a young man trying to get a will made against him.""It is not against me," said Ralph."It would be against me to have a large property to take care of.It's impossible for a man in my state of health to spend much money, and enough is as good as a feast.""Well, you'll have enough- and something over.There will be more than enough for one- there will be enough for two.""That's too much," said Ralph.
"Ah, don't say that.The best thing you can do, when I'm gone, will be to marry."Ralph had foreseen what his father was coming to, and this suggestion was by no means fresh.It had long been Mr.Touchett's most ingenious way of taking the cheerful view of his son's possible duration.Ralph had usually treated it facetiously; but present circumstances proscribed the facetious.He simply fell back in his chair and returned his father's appealing gaze.
"If I, with a wife who hasn't been very fond of me, have had a very happy life," said the old man, carrying his ingenuity further still, "what a life mightn't you have if you should marry a person different from Mrs.Touchett.There are more different from her than there are like her." Ralph still said nothing; and after a pause his father resumed softly: "What do you think of your cousin?"At this Ralph started, meeting the question with a strained smile.
"Do I understand you to propose that I should marry Isabel?""Well, that's what it comes to in the end.Don't you like Isabel?""Yes, very much." And Ralph got up from his chair and wandered over to the fire.He stood before it an instant and then he stooped and stirred it mechanically.
"I like Isabel very much," he repeated.
"Well," said his father, "I know she likes you.She has told me how much she likes you.""Did she remark that she would like to marry me?""No, but she can't have anything against you.And she's the most charming young lady I've ever seen.And she would be good to you.Ihave thought a great deal about it."
"So have I," said Ralph, coming back to the bedside again."Idon't mind telling you that."
"You are in love with her then? I should think you would be.It's as if she came over on purpose.""No, I'm not in love with her; but I should be if- if certain things were different.""Ah, things are always different from what they might be," said the old man."If you wait for them to change you'll never do anything.