These were indeed immediately so visible in Mr.Verver's face that, as if a little ashamed of having so markedly produced them--and as if also to bring out at last, under pressure, something she had all the while been keeping back--she took a jump to pure plain reason.

"You haven't noticed for yourself, but I can't quite help noticing, that in spite of what you assume--WE assume, if you like--Maggie wires her joy only to you.

She makes no sign of its overflow to me." It was a point--and, staring a moment, he took account of it.

But he had, as before, his presence of mind--to say nothing of his kindly humour.

"Why, you complain of the very thing that's most charmingly conclusive! She treats us already as ONE." Clearly now, for the girl, in spite of lucidity and logic, there was something in the way he said things--! She faced him in all her desire to please him, and then her word quite simply and definitely showed it.
"I do like you, you know." Well, what could this do but stimulate his humour?
"I see what's the matter with you.