39/89 She has been perfectly free; and he--our young friend--is really a combination. "You mean your future son-in-law ?" "Future if we all bring it off." "Ah well," said Strether decorously, "I heartily hope you may." There seemed little else for him to say, though her communication had the oddest effect on him. Vaguely and confusedly he was troubled by it; feeling as if he had even himself been concerned in something deep and dim. He had allowed for depths, but these were greater: and it was as if, oppressively--indeed absurdly--he was responsible for what they had now thrown up to the surface. It was--through something ancient and cold in it--what he would have called the real thing. |