His anxiety about his father had been lightened; Sir Matthew Hope's view of his condition was less depressed than his own had been.

The doctor recommended that the nurse alone should remain with the old man for the next three or four hours; so that Ralph, his mother and the great physician himself were free to dine at table.

Mrs.Touchett and Sir Matthew appeared; Madame Merle was the last.
Before she came Isabel spoke of her to Ralph, who was standing before the fireplace.

"Pray who is this Madame Merle ?" "The cleverest woman I know, not excepting yourself," said Ralph.
"I thought she seemed very pleasant." "I was sure you'd think her very pleasant." "Is that why you invited her ?" "I didn't invite her, and when we came back from London I didn't know she was here.

No one invited her.