"Do you like him ?" This time he was prompt.

"No.

How CAN I ?" "Do you mean because of your being so saddled with him ?" "I'm thinking of his mother," said Strether after a moment.

"He has darkened her admirable life." He spoke with austerity.

"He has worried her half to death." "Oh that's of course odious." She had a pause as if for renewed emphasis of this truth, but it ended on another note.