Madame Merle looked about her, choosing her seat.
"You're going to the door with these women? Let me of course not
interrupt the ceremony. Je vous salue, mesdames," she added, in
French, to the nuns, as if to dismiss them.
"This lady's a great friend of ours; you will have seen her at the
convent," said their entertainer. "We've much faith in her
judgement, and she'll help me to decide whether my daughter shall
return to you at the end of the holidays."
"I hope you'll decide in our favour, madame," the sister in
spectacles ventured to remark.
"That's Mr. Osmond's pleasantry; I decide nothing," said Madame
Merle, but also as in pleasantry. "I believe you've a very good
school, but Miss Osmond's friends must remember that she's very
naturally meant for the world."
"That's what I've told monsieur," sister Catherine answered. "It's
precisely to fit her for the world," she murmured, glancing at
Pansy, who stood, at a little distance, attentive to Madame Merle's
elegant apparel.
"Do you hear that, Pansy? You're very naturally meant for the
world," said Pansy's father.
The child fixed him an instant with her pure young eyes.
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