If he'll only not spoil it! But they always WILL; they always do; they always have." "I don't think Waymarsh knows," Strether said after a moment, "quite what it's open to Bilham to spoil." "It can't be a good American," Waymarsh lucidly enough replied; "for it didn't strike me the young man had developed much in THAT shape." "Ah," Miss Gostrey sighed, "the name of the good American is as easily given as taken away! What IS it, to begin with, to BE one, and what's the extraordinary hurry?
Surely nothing that's so pressing was ever so little defined.

It's such an order, really, that before we cook you the dish we must at least have your receipt.

Besides the poor chicks have time! What I've seen so often spoiled," she pursued, "is the happy attitude itself, the state of faith and--what shall I call it ?--the sense of beauty.

You're right about him"-- she now took in Strether; "little Bilham has them to a charm, we must keep little Bilham along." Then she was all again for Waymarsh.

"The others have all wanted so dreadfully to do something, and they've gone and done it in too many cases indeed.