There had been a party at dinner, so that though he went early the company was already tolerably numerous.

Osmond, as usual, was in the first room, near the fire, staring straight at the door, so that, not to be distinctly uncivil, Rosier had to go and speak to him.
"I'm glad that you can take a hint," Pansy's father said, slightly closing his keen, conscious eyes.
"I take no hints.

But I took a message, as I supposed it to be." "You took it?
Where did you take it ?" It seemed to poor Rosier he was being insulted, and he waited a moment, asking himself how much a true lover ought to submit to.

"Madame Merle gave me, as I understood it, a message from you--to the effect that you declined to give me the opportunity I desire, the opportunity to explain my wishes to you." And he flattered himself he spoke rather sternly.
"I don't see what Madame Merle has to do with it.

Why did you apply to Madame Merle ?" "I asked her for an opinion--for nothing more.