I mean ME. I'm her pretext. That is--for it comes to the same
thing--I'm your mother's."

"Then why," Chad asked, "doesn't Mother come herself?"

His friend gave him a long look. "Should you like her to?" And as he
for the moment said nothing: "It's perfectly open to you to cable for
her."

Chad continued to think. "Will she come if I do?"

"Quite possibly. But try, and you'll see."

"Why don't YOU try?" Chad after a moment asked.

"Because I don't want to."

Chad thought. "Don't desire her presence here?"

Strether faced the question, and his answer was the more emphatic.
"Don't put it off, my dear boy, on ME!"

"Well--I see what you mean. I'm sure you'd behave beautifully but you
DON'T want to see her. So I won't play you that trick.'

"Ah," Strether declared, "I shouldn't call it a trick. You've a
perfect right, and it would be perfectly straight of you." Then he
added in a different tone: "You'd have moreover, in the person of
Madame de Vionnet, a very interesting relation prepared for her."

Their eyes, on this proposition, continued to meet, but Chad's pleasant
and bold, never flinched for a moment. He got up at last and he said
something with which Strether was struck. "She wouldn't understand
her, but that makes no difference. Madame de Vionnet would like to see
her. She'd like to be charming to her. She believes she could work
it."

Strether thought a moment, affected by this, but finally turning away.
"She couldn't!"

"You're quite sure?" Chad asked.

"Well, risk it if you like!"

Strether, who uttered this with serenity, had urged a plea for their
now getting into the air; but the young man still waited. "Have you
sent your answer?"

"No, I've done nothing yet."

"Were you waiting to see me?"

"No, not that."

"Only waiting"--and Chad, with this, had a smile for him--"to see Miss
Gostrey?"

"No--not even Miss Gostrey. I wasn't waiting to see any one. I had
only waited, till now, to make up my mind--in complete solitude; and,
since I of course absolutely owe you the information, was on the point
of going out with it quite made up. Have therefore a little more
patience with me. Remember," Strether went on, "that that's what you
originally asked ME to have. I've had it, you see, and you see what
has come of it. Stay on with me."

Chad looked grave. "How much longer?"

"Well, till I make you a sign. I can't myself, you know, at the best,
or at the worst, st