Henry James

“ Which indeed begot in her, with a certain inconsequence, a return of her small wail. "Ah, there you are!"
There, if it were so, he continued for the rest of the time to be, and it was as if to show her how she could still serve him that, coming back to the departure of the Pococks, he gave her the view, vivid with a hundred more touches than we can reproduce, of what had happened for him that morning. ”

“ Strether had to admit, "I couldn't manage that. He's thrown, as usual, on the world; the world which, after all, by his account—for he has prodigious adventures—seems very good to him. He fortunately—'over here,' as he says—finds the world everywhere; and his most prodigious adventure of all," he went on, "has been of course of the last few days."
Miss Gostrey, already knowing, instantly made the connection. "He has seen Marie again?"
"He went, all by himself, the day after Chad's party—didn't I tell you?—to tea with her. By her invitation—all alone."
"Quite like you!" Maria smiled. ”

“ Miss Gostrey continued suggestive. "Mme. de Vionnet?"
"She has plenty."
"Certainly—she had quantities of old. But there are different ways of making one's self felt."
"Yes, it comes, no doubt, to that. You now———!" ”

“ He was benevolently going on, but she wouldn't have it. "Oh, I don't make myself felt; so my quantity needn't be settled. Yours, you know," she went on, "is monstrous. No one has ever had so much."
It struck him for a moment. "That's what Chad also said."
"There you are then—though it isn't for him to complain of it!"
"Oh, he doesn't complain of it," said Strether.
"That's all that would be wanting! But in relation to what," Maria went on, "did the question come up?" ”

“ Do you mean they're already engaged?"
"Well," said Strether, "say then for me. He'll do anything for me; just as I will, for that matter—anything I can—for him. Or for Mamie either. Mamie will do anything for me."
Miss Gostrey gave a substantial sigh. "The way you reduce people to subjection!"
"It's certainly, on one side, wonderful. But it's quite equalled, on another, by the way I don't. I haven't reduced Sarah since yesterday; though I've succeeded in seeing her again, as I'll presently tell you. The others, however, are all right. ”

“ Mamie, by that blessed law of ours, must absolutely have a young man."
"But what must poor Mr. Bilham have? Do you mean they're ready to marry for you?"
"I mean that, by the same blessed law, it won't matter a grain if they don't—I shan't have in the least to worry." ”

“ Strether replied—and he had it even for himself surprisingly ready—"my dear lady, his mother has paid him a visit. Mrs. Newsome has been with him, this month, with an intensity that I'm sure he has thoroughly felt; he has lavishly entertained her, and she has let him have her thanks. ”

“ She gives me after all, on its coming to the pinch, a last mercy, another chance. They don't sail, you see, for five or six weeks more, and they haven't—she admits that—expected Chad would take part in their tour. It's still open to him to join them, at the last, at Liverpool."
Miss Gostrey considered. "How in the world is it 'open' unless you open it? How can he join them at Liverpool if he but sinks deeper into his situation here?"
"He has given her—as I explained to you that she let me know yesterday—his word of honour to do as I say."
Maria stared. "But if you say nothing!" ”

“ He had seen Chad Newsome late the night before, and he had had that morning, as a sequel to this conversation, a second interview with Sarah. "But they're all off," he said, "at last."
It puzzled her a moment. "All?—Mr. Newsome with them?"
"Ah, not yet! Sarah and Jim and Mamie. But Waymarsh with them—for Sarah. It's too beautiful," Strether continued; "I find I don't get over that—it's always a fresh joy. But it's a fresh joy too," he added, "that—well, what do you think? Little Bilham also goes. But he of course goes for Mamie."
Miss Gostrey wondered. "'For' her? ”