"You were charming, my dear; you were just as one would have wished you. You＇re never disappointing."
A rebuke might possibly have been irritating, though it is much more probable that Isabel would have taken it in good part; but, strange to say, the words that Madame Merle actually used caused her the昀rst feeling of displeasure she had known this ally to excite. "That＇s more than I intended," she answered coldly. "I＇m under no obligation that I know of to charm Mr. Osmond."
