Their talk had accordingly not lasted three minutes without Strether's feeling basis enough for the excitement in which he had waited.

This overflow fairly deepened, wastefully abounded, as he observed the smallness of anything corresponding to it on the part of his friend.

That was exactly this friend's happy case; he "put out" his excitement, or whatever other emotion the matter involved, as he put out his washing; than which no arrangement could make more for domestic order.

It was quite for Strether himself in short to feel a personal analogy with the laundress bringing home the triumphs of the mangle.
When he had reported on Sarah's visit, which he did very fully, Chad answered his question with perfect candour.

"I positively referred her to you--told her she must absolutely see you.