She said this musingly, not in answer to Celia, but to her own thoughts,—­as she looked away, out from everything that surrounded her.  The passion for ruling had always been uppermost in her mind; suddenly there dawned upon her the pleasure of being ruled.  She became conscious of the pleasure of conquering all things for the sake of giving all to another.  A new sense of peace stole upon her mind.  Before, she had felt herself alone, even in the midst of the kindness of the home that had been given her.  She had never dared to think or to speak of the past, and as little of the future.  She had gladly flung herself into the details of every-day life.  She had given her mind to the study of all that it required.  She loved the Doctor, because he was always leading her on to fresh fields, always exciting her to a new knowledge.  She loved him, too, for himself, for his tenderness and kindness to her.  With Mrs. Lester and Celia she felt herself on a different footing.  They admired her, but they never came near her.  She led them, and they were always behind her.

With Otho she experienced a new feeling.  He seemed, very much as she did herself, out of place in the world just around him.  He was a foreigner,—­was not yet acclimated to the society about him.  He was willing to talk of other things than every-day events.  He did not talk of “things,” indeed, but he speculated, as though he lived a separate life from that of mere eating and drinking.  He was not content with what seemed to every-day people possible, but was willing to believe that there were things not dreamed of in their philosophy.

“It is a satisfaction,” said Lawrence once to Celia, “that Isabella has found somebody who will go high enough into the clouds to suit her.  Besides, it gives me a little repose.”

“And a secret jealousy at the same time; is it not so?” asked Celia.  “He takes up too much of Isabella’s time to please you.”

“The reason he pleases her,” said Lawrence, “is because he is more womanly than manly, and she thinks women ought to rule the world.  Now if the world were made up of such as he, it would be very easily ruled.  Isabella loves power too well to like to see it in others.  Look at her when she is with Mrs. Blanchard!  It is a splendid sight to see them together!”

“How can you say so?  I am always afraid of some outbreak.”

These families were, however, so much drawn together, that, when the Doctor came to summon his wife and daughter and Isabella home, Mrs. Blanchard was anxious to accompany them to New England.  She wondered if it were not possible to find a country-seat somewhere near the Lesters, that she could occupy for a time.  The Doctor knew that the Willows was to be vacant this spring.  The Fogertys were all going to Europe, and would be very willing to let their place.

So it was arranged after their return.  The Fogertys left for Europe, and Mrs. Blanchard took possession of the Willows.  It was a pleasant walking distance from the Lesters, but it was several weeks before Isabella made her first visit there.  She was averse to going into the house, but, in company with Celia, Lawrence, and Otho, walked about the grounds.  Presently they stopped near a pretty fountain that was playing in the midst of the garden.