He was sure Pansy had never looked at a newspaper and that, in the way of novels, if she had read Sir Walter Scott it was the very most.

An American jeune fille--what could be better than that?
She would be frank and gay, and yet would not have walked alone, nor have received letters from men, nor have been taken to the theatre to see the comedy of manners.

Rosier could not deny that, as the matter stood, it would be a breach of hospitality to appeal directly to this unsophisticated creature; but he was now in imminent danger of asking himself if hospitality were the most sacred thing in the world.

Was not the sentiment that he entertained for Miss Osmond of infinitely greater importance?
Of greater importance to him--yes; but not probably to the master of the house.
There was one comfort; even if this gentleman had been placed on his guard by Madame Merle he would not have extended the warning to Pansy; it would not have been part of his policy to let her know that a prepossessing young man was in love with her.

But he WAS in love with her, the prepossessing young man; and all these restrictions of circumstance had ended by irritating him.