Besides, there's Chad." Strether was silent a little.

"Ah but he doesn't care for her--not, I mean, it appears, after all, in the sense I'm speaking of.

He's NOT in love with her." "No--but he's her best friend; after her mother.

He's very fond of her.

He has his ideas about what can be done for her." "Well, it's very strange!" Strether presently remarked with a sighing sense of fulness.
"Very strange indeed.