sted again, considered and demurred. "Do you think so?
Do you think any one would be too old for him? I'M eighty, and I'm too
young. But perhaps the girl," he continued, "ISn't twenty. Perhaps
she's only ten--but such a little dear that Chad finds himself counting
her in as an attraction of the acquaintance. Perhaps she's only five.
Perhaps the mother's but five-and-twenty--a charming young widow."

Miss Gostrey entertained the suggestion. "She IS a widow then?"

"I haven't the least idea!" They once more, in spite of this
vagueness, exchanged a look--a look that was perhaps the longest yet.
It seemed in fact, the next thing, to require to explain itself; which
it did as it could. "I only feel what I've told you--that he has some
reason."

Miss Gostrey's imagination had taken its own flight. "Perhaps she's
NOT a widow."

Strether seemed to accept the possibility with reserve. Still he
accepted it. "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. "Then where's his
straightness?"

"Well, as we say, it's struggling up, breaking out, asserting itself as
it can. We can be on the side, you see, of his straightness. We can
help him. But he has made out," said Miss Gostrey, "that you'll do."

"Do for what?"

"Why, for THEM--for ces dames. He has watched you, studied you, liked
you--and recognised that THEY must. It's a great compliment to you, my
dear man; for I'm sure they're particular. You came out for a success.
Well," she gaily declared, "you're having it!"

He took it from her with momentary patience and then turned abruptly
away. It was always convenient to him that there were so many fine
things in her room to look at. But the examination of two or three of
them appeared soon to have determined a speech that had little to do
with them. "You don't believe