"Are you engaged to be married--is that your secret ?--to the young lady ?" Chad shook his head with the slow amenity that was one of his ways of conveying that there was time for everything.

"I have no secret--though I may have secrets! I haven't at any rate that one.
We're not engaged.

No." "Then where's the hitch ?" "Do you mean why I haven't already started with you ?" Chad, beginning his coffee and buttering his roll, was quite ready to explain.

"Nothing would have induced me--nothing will still induce me--not to try to keep you here as long as you can be made to stay.

It's too visibly good for you." Strether had himself plenty to say about this, but it was amusing also to measure the march of Chad's tone.