 interest of it. »You are all indeed wonderful. I
should awfully disappoint you. I do take my stand on my sufficiency. But I know,
I confess,« she went on, »strange people. I don't know how it happens; I don't
do it on purpose; it seems to be my doom - as if I were always one of their
habits: it's wonderful! I dare say moreover,« she pursued with an interested
gravity, »that I do, that we all do here, run too much to mere eye. But how can
it be helped? We're all looking at each other - and in the light of Paris one
sees what things resemble. That's what the light of Paris seems always to show.
It's the fault of the light of Paris - dear old light!«
    »Dear old Paris!« little Bilham echoed.
    »Everything, every one shows,« Miss Barrace went on.
    »But for what they really are?« Strether asked.
    »Oh I like your Boston reallys! But sometimes - yes.«
    »Dear old Paris then!« Strether resignedly sighed while for a moment they
looked at each other. Then he broke out: »Does Madame de Vionnet do that? I mean
really show for what she is?«
    Her answer was prompt. »She's charming. She's perfect.«
    »Then why did you a minute ago say Oh, oh, oh! at her name?«
    She easily remembered. »Why just because -! She's wonderful.«
    »Ah she too?« - Strether had almost a groan.
    But Miss Barrace had meanwhile perceived relief. »Why not put your question
straight to the person who can answer it best?«
    »No,« said little Bilham; »don't put any question; wait, rather - it will be
much more fun - to judge for yourself. He has come to take you to her.«

                                       II

 
On which Strether saw that Chad was again at hand, and he afterwards scarce
knew, absurd as it may seem, what had then quickly occurred. The moment
concerned him, he felt, more deeply than he could have explained, and he had a
subsequent passage of speculation as to whether, on walking off with Chad, he
hadn't looked either pale or red. The only thing he was clear about was that,
luckily, nothing indiscreet had in fact been said, and that Chad himself was
more than ever, in Miss
