 late, as you see, and Paris turning rather hot and dusty. People
are scattering, and some of them, in other places, want me. But if you want me
here -!«
    She had spoken as resigned to his word, but he had of a sudden a still
sharper sense than he would have expected of desiring not to lose her. »I want
you here.«
    She took it as if the words were all she had wished; as if they brought her,
gave her something that was the compensation of her case. »Thank you,« she
simply answered. And then as he looked at her a little harder, »Thank you very
much,« she repeated.
    It had broken as with a slight arrest into the current of their talk, and it
held him a moment longer. »Why, two months, or whatever the time was, ago, did
you so suddenly dash off? The reason you afterwards gave me for having kept away
three weeks wasn't the real one.«
    She recalled. »I never supposed you believed it was. Yet,« she continued,
»if you didn't guess it that was just what helped you.«
    He looked away from her on this; he indulged, so far as space permitted, in
one of his slow absences. »I've often thought of it, but never to feel that I
could guess it. And you see the consideration with which I've treated you in
never asking till now.«
    »Now then why do you ask?«
    »To show you how I miss you when you're not here, and what it does for me.«
    »It doesn't seem to have done,« she laughed, »all it might! However,« she
added, »if you've really never guessed the truth I'll tell it you.«
    »I've never guessed it,« Strether declared.
    »Never?«
    »Never.«
    »Well then I dashed off, as you say, so as not to have the confusion of
being there if Marie de Vionnet should tell you anything to my detriment.«
    He looked as if he considerably doubted. »You even then would have had to
face it on your return.«
    »Oh if I had found reason to believe it something very bad I'd have left you
altogether.«
    »So then,« he continued, »it was only on guessing she had been on the whole
merciful that you ventured back?«
    Maria kept
