She had expressed, while the revolution of her thought was incomplete, the idea of what Amerigo "ought," on his side, in the premises, to be capable of, and then had felt her companion's answering stare.

But she insisted on what she had meant.

"He ought to wish to see her--and I mean in some protected and independent way, as he used to--in case of her being herself able to manage it.

That," said Maggie with the courage of her conviction, "he ought to be ready, he ought to be happy, he ought to feel himself sworn--little as it is for the end of such a history!--to take from her.

It's as if he wished to get off without taking anything." Mrs.Assingham deferentially mused.