You see I throw myself for it on your charity." The manner of this speech gave Strether such a sense of depths below it and behind it as he hadn't yet had--ministered in a way that almost frightened him to his dim divinations of reasons; but if Sarah still, in spite of it, faltered, this was why he had time for a sign of sympathy with her petitioner.

"Let me say then, dear lady, to back your plea, that Miss Mamie is of the most delightful kind of all--is charming among the charming." Even Waymarsh, though with more to produce on the subject, could get into motion in time.

"Yes, Countess, the American girl's a thing that your country must at least allow ours the privilege to say we CAN show you.

But her full beauty is only for those who know how to make use of her." "Ah then," smiled Madame de Vionnet, "that's exactly what I want to do.
I'm sure she has much to teach us." It was wonderful, but what was scarce less so was that Strether found himself, by the quick effect of it, moved another way.

"Oh that may be! But don't speak of your own exquisite daughter, you know, as if she weren't pure perfection.