Meantime, however, our friend perceived, he was announcing a step of some magnanimity on Mrs.
Pocock's part, so that he could deprecate a sharp question.

It was his own high purpose in fact to have smoothed sharp questions to rest.

He looked his old comrade very straight in the eyes, and he had never conveyed to him in so mute a manner so much kind confidence and so much good advice.

Everything that was between them was again in his face, but matured and shelved and finally disposed of.

"At any rate," he added, "she's coming now." Considering how many pieces had to fit themselves, it all fell, in Strether's brain, into a close rapid order.