But they're never so lively, you know, as when they're prostrate." "Ah Sarah's prostrate ?" Strether vaguely murmured.
"It's when they're prostrate that they most sit up." "And Mrs.Newsome's sitting up ?" "All night, my boy--for YOU!" And Jim fetched him, with a vulgar little guffaw, a thrust that gave relief to the picture.

But he had got what he wanted.

He felt on the spot that this WAS the real word from Woollett.

"So don't you go home!" Jim added while he alighted and while his friend, letting him profusely pay the cabman, sat on in a momentary muse.

Strether wondered if that were the real word too.
III As the door of Mrs.Pocock's salon was pushed open for him, the next day, well before noon, he was reached by a voice with a charming sound that made him just falter before crossing the threshold.