"Then that's why the attachment--if it's to her--is virtuous." But she looked as if she scarce followed.

"Why is it virtuous if--since she's free--there's nothing to impose on it any condition ?" He laughed at her question.

"Oh I perhaps don't mean as virtuous as THAT! Your idea is that it can be virtuous--in any sense worthy of the name--only if she's NOT free?
But what does it become then," he asked, "for HER ?" "Ah that's another matter." He said nothing for a moment, and she soon went on.

"I dare say you're right, at any rate, about Mr.Newsome's little plan.

He HAS been trying you--has been reporting on you to these friends." Strether meanwhile had had time to think more.