A man she had heard spoken of in terms that excited interest and who was evidently capable of distinguishing himself, had invited her, a young lady not lavish of her favours, to come to his house.

Now that she had done so the burden of the entertainment rested naturally on his wit.

Isabel was not rendered less observant, and for the moment, we judge, she was not rendered more indulgent, by perceiving that Mr.Osmond carried his burden less complacently than might have been expected.

"What a fool I was to have let myself so needlessly in--!" she could fancy his exclaiming to himself.
"You'll be tired when you go home, if he shows you all his bibelots and gives you a lecture on each," said the Countess Gemini.
"I'm not afraid of that; but if I'm tired I shall at least have learned something." "Very little, I suspect.

But my sister's dreadfully afraid of learning anything," said Mr.Osmond.
"Oh, I confess to that; I don't want to know anything more--I know too much already.