a touch of pleasantry, while she let him go on as if to sink and sink. He went
on however well enough, as well as he could do without fresh counsel; he indeed
shouldn't stand quite firm, he felt, till he should have re-established his
communications with Chad. Still, he could always speak for the woman he had so
definitely promised to save. This wasn't quite for her the air of salvation; but
as that chill fairly deepened what did it become but a reminder that one might
at the worst perish with her? And it was simple enough - it was rudimentary:
not, not to give her away. »I find in her more merits than you would probably
have patience with my counting over. And do you know,« he enquired, »the effect
you produce on me by alluding to her in such terms? It's as if you had some
motive in not recognising all she has done for your brother, and so shut your
eyes to each side of the matter, in order, whichever side comes up, to get rid
of the other. I don't, you must allow me to say, see how you can with any
pretence to candour get rid of the side nearest you.«
    »Near me - that sort of thing?« And Sarah gave a jerk back of her head that
well might have nullified any active proximity.
    It kept her friend himself at his distance, and he respected for a moment
the interval. Then with a last persuasive effort he bridged it. »You don't, on
your honour, appreciate Chad's fortunate development?«
    »Fortunate?« she echoed again. And indeed she was prepared. »I call it
hideous.«
    Her departure had been for some minutes marked as imminent, and she was
already at the door that stood open to the court, from the threshold of which
she delivered herself of this judgement. It rang out so loud as to produce for
the time the hush of everything else. Strether quite, as an effect of it,
breathed less bravely; he could acknowledge it, but simply enough. »Oh if you
think that -!«
    »Then all's at an end? So much the better. I do think that!« She passed out
as she spoke and took her way straight across the court, beyond which, separated
from them by the deep arch of the porte-cochère the low victoria that had
conveyed her from her own hotel was drawn up. She made for it with decision,