"He ought then to be ashamed of himself, and, as you admit that you think so too, why drag him in ?" Strether's reply again took time.

"Perhaps I do think so myself--though I don't quite yet admit it.

I'm not a bit sure--it's again one of the things I want to find out.

I liked him, and CAN you like people--?
But no matter." He pulled himself up.

"There's no doubt I want you to come down on me and squash me." Waymarsh helped himself to the next course, which, however proving not the dish he had just noted as supplied to the English ladies, had the effect of causing his imagination temporarily to wander.