That's just why," our friend explained, "I want to see her again." It drew from Chad again the same question.

"To see Mother ?" "To see--for the present--Sarah." "Ah then there you are! And what I don't for the life of me make out," Chad pursued with resigned perplexity, "is what you GAIN by it." Oh it would have taken his companion too long to say! "That's because you have, I verily believe, no imagination.

You've other qualities.
But no imagination, don't you see?
at all." "I dare say.

I do see." It was an idea in which Chad showed interest.
"But haven't you yourself rather too much ?" "Oh RATHER--!" So that after an instant, under this reproach and as if it were at last a fact really to escape from, Strether made his move for departure.
II One of the features of the restless afternoon passed by him after Mrs.
Pocock's visit was an hour spent, shortly before dinner, with Maria Gostrey, whom of late, in spite of so sustained a call on his attention from other quarters, he had by no means neglected.

And that he was still not neglecting her will appear from the fact that he was with her again at the same hour on the very morrow--with no less fine a consciousness moreover of being able to hold her ear.