Nor could humble words have taken a more humble accent; and yet they availed little to conciliate her to whom they were addressed; nay, this very humility seemed to irritate and provoke her to a greater show of temper, as with an insolent laugh she said,-This mockery of respect never imposed on we, young lady.
"The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)"
Charles James Lever
It does irritate, the way Ludwig puts it, of course; the mere sound of his language makes one want to fight.
"I Walked in Arden"
Jack Crawford
Instead, she decided to see if it were possible to irritate him.
"A Prairie Courtship"
Harold Bindloss