There was in this last particular no resemblance but that of youth to youth; and here was in fact suddenly Strether's sharpest impression.

It went wondering, dazed, embarrassed, back to the woman he had just been talking with; it was a revelation in the light of which he already saw she would become more interesting.

So slim and fresh and fair, she had yet put forth this perfection; so that for really believing it of her, for seeing her to any such developed degree as a mother, comparison would be urgent.

Well, what was it now but fairly thrust upon him?
"Mamma wishes me to tell you before we go," the girl said, "that she hopes very much you'll come to see us very soon.

She has something important to say to you." "She quite reproaches herself," Chad helpfully explained: "you were interesting her so much when she accidentally suffered you to be interrupted." "Ah don't mention it!" Strether murmured, looking kindly from one to the other and wondering at many things.
"And I'm to ask you for myself," Jeanne continued with her hands clasped together as if in some small learnt prayer--"I'm to ask you for myself if you won't positively come." "Leave it to me, dear--I'll take care of it!" Chad genially declared in answer to this, while Strether himself almost held his breath.