I don't believe Osmond himself knows. Besides, she
wouldn't have married him."
"How can she have loved him then?"
"She doesn't love him in that way. She did at first, and then, I
suppose, she would have married him; but at that time her husband
was living. By the time M. Merle had rejoined-I won't say his
ancestors, because he never had any-her relations with Osmond had
changed, and she had grown more ambitious. Besides, she has never had,
about him," the Countess went on, leaving Isabel to wince for it so
tragically afterwards-she had never had, what you might call any
illusions of intelligence. She hoped she might marry a great man; that
has always been her idea. She has waited and watched and plotted and
prayed; but she has never succeeded. I don't call Madame Merle a
success, you know. I don't know what she may accomplish yet, but at
present she has very little to show. The only tangible result she
has ever achieved-except, of course, getting to know every one and
staying with them free of expense-has been her bringing you and Osmond
together. Oh, she did that, my dear; you needn't look as if you
doubted it. I've watched them for years; I know everything-everything.
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