It was moreover something in which they all took an interest; the strength of their interest was in truth just the reason of her prudence.

All this then, for five minutes, was vivid to Strether, and it put before him that, poor child, she had now but her prudence to amuse her.

That, for a pretty girl in Paris, struck him, with a rush, as a sorry state; so that under the impression he went out to her with a step as hypocritically alert, he was well aware, as if he had just come into the room.

She turned with a start at his voice; preoccupied with him though she might be, she was just a scrap disappointed.

"Oh I thought you were Mr.Bilham!" The remark had been at first surprising and our friend's private thought, under the influence of it, temporarily blighted; yet we are able to add that he presently recovered his inward tone and that many a fresh flower of fancy was to bloom in the same air.