"Sir Matthew Hope told me so as plainly as was proper," she said; "standing there, near the 昀re, before dinner. He makes himself very agreeable, the great doctor. I don＇t mean his saying that has anything to do with it. But he says such things with great tact. I had told him I felt ill at my ease, staying here at such a time; it seemed to me so indiscreet—it wasn＇t as if I could nurse. ＇You must remain, you must remain,＇he answered; ＇your office will come later.＇ Wasn＇t that a very delicate way of saying both that poor Mr.Touchett would go and that I might be of some use as a consoler? In fact, however, I shall not be of the slightest use. Your aunt will console herself; she, and she alone, knows just how much consolation she＇ll require. It would be a very delicate matter for another person to undertake to administer the dose. With your cousin it will be different; he＇ll miss his father immensely. But I should never presume to condole with Mr. Ralph; we＇re not on those terms." Madame Merle had alluded more than once to some unde昀ned incongruity in her relations with Ralph Touchett; so Isabel took this occasion of asking her if they were not good friends.