How can I when I don't understand it ?" "It isn't at all necessary you should understand; it will do quite well enough if you simply remember it.

Only feel I trust you--and for nothing so tremendous after all.

Just," she said with a wonderful smile, "for common civility." Strether had a long pause while they sat again face to face, as they had sat, scarce less conscious, before the poor lady had crossed the stream.

She was the poor lady for Strether now because clearly she had some trouble, and her appeal to him could only mean that her trouble was deep.

He couldn't help it; it wasn't his fault; he had done nothing; but by a turn of the hand she had somehow made their encounter a relation.