"But I'm afraid Mr.Osmond's pretty hard," he added in his mild voice as he went to the door.
Madame Merle gave a short laugh.

"It has been said before.

But his wife isn't easy either." "Ah, she's a splendid woman!" Ned Rosier repeated, for departure.
He resolved that his conduct should be worthy of an aspirant who was already a model of discretion; but he saw nothing in any pledge he had given Madame Merle that made it improper he should keep himself in spirits by an occasional visit to Miss Osmond's home.

He reflected constantly on what his adviser had said to him, and turned over in his mind the impression of her rather circumspect tone.

He had gone to her de confiance, as they put it in Paris; but it was possible he had been precipitate.