I hope she's well." Strether hesitated.

"No--she's not well, I'm sorry to have to tell you." "Ah," said Chad, "I must have had the instinct of it.

All the more reason then that we should start straight off." Strether had now got together hat, gloves and stick, but Chad had dropped on the sofa as if to show where he wished to make his point.

He kept observing his companion's things; he might have been judging how quickly they could be packed.

He might even have wished to hint that he'd send his own servant to assist.