But isn't that enough?
What more than a vain appearance does the wisest of us know?
I commend you," the young man declared with a pleasant emphasis, "the vain appearance." Strether looked more widely round, and what he saw, from face to face, deepened the effect of his young friend's words.

"Is it so good ?" "Magnificent." Strether had a pause.

"The husband's dead ?" "Dear no.

Alive." "Oh!" said Strether.

After which, as his companion laughed: "How then can it be so good ?" "You'll see for yourself.