ngs," Strether reflected; for wondrous were the
vague quantities our friend had within a couple of short days acquired
the habit of conveniently and conclusively lumping together. There
seemed moreover a direct connexion between some such inference and a
sudden grim dash taken by Waymarsh to the opposite side. This movement
was startlingly sudden, and his companions at first supposed him to
have espied, to be pursuing, the glimpse of an acquaintance. They next
made out, however, that an open door had instantly received him, and
they then recognised him as engulfed in the establishment of a
jeweller, behind whose glittering front he was lost to view. The fact
had somehow the note of a demonstration, and it left each of the others
to show a face almost of fear. But Miss Gostrey broke into a laugh.
"What's the matter with him?"

"Well," said Strether, "he can't stand it."

"But can't stand what?"

"Anything. Europe."

"Then how will that jeweller help him?"

Strether seemed to make it out, from their position, between the
interstices of arrayed watches, of close-hung dangling gewgaws. "You'll
see."

"Ah that's just what--if he buys anything--I'm afraid of: that I shall
see something rather dreadful."

Strether studied the finer appearances. "He may buy everything."

"Then don't you think we ought to follow him?"

"Not for worlds. Besides we can't. We're paralysed. We exchange a
long scared look, we publicly tremble. The thing is, you see, we
'realise.' He has struck for freedom."

She wondered but she laughed. "Ah what a price to pay! And I was
preparing some for him so cheap."

"No, no," Strether went on, frankly amused now; "don't call it that:
the kind of freedom you deal in is dear." Then as to justify himself:
"Am I not in MY way trying it? It's this."

"Being here, you mean, with me?"

"Yes, and talking to you as I do. I've known you a few hours, and I've
known HIM all my life; so that if the ease I thus take with you about
him isn't magnificent"--and the thought of it held him a moment--"why
it's rather base."

"It's magnificent!" said Miss Gostrey to make an end of it. "And you
should hear," she added, "the ease I take--and I above all intend to
take--with Mr. Waymarsh."

Strether thought. "About ME? Ah that's no equivalent. The equivalent
would be Waymarsh's himself serving me up--his remorseless analysis of
me. And he'll never do that"--he was sadly clear. "He'll never
remo