more than all, the strides, he already felt her come down on him,
already burned, under her reprobation, with the blush of guilt, already
consented, by way of penance, to the instant forfeiture of everything.
He saw himself, under her direction, recommitted to Woollett as
juvenile offenders are committed to reformatories. It wasn't of course
that Woollett was really a place of discipline; but he knew in advance
that Sarah's salon at the hotel would be. His danger, at any rate, in
such moods of alarm, was some concession, on this ground, that would
involve a sharp rupture with the actual; therefore if he waited to take
leave of that actual he might wholly miss his chance. It was
represented with supreme vividness by Madame de Vionnet, and that is
why, in a word, he waited no longer. He had seen in a flash that he
must anticipate Mrs. Pocock. He was accordingly much disappointed on
now learning from the portress that the lady of his quest was not in
Paris. She had gone for some days to the country. There was nothing
in this accident but what was natural; yet it produced for poor
Strether a drop of all confidence. It was suddenly as if he should
never see her again, and as if moreover he had brought it on himself by
not having been quite kind to her.

It was the advantage of his having let his fancy lose itself for a
little in the gloom that, as by reaction, the prospect began really to
brighten from the moment the deputation from Woollett alighted on the
platform of the station. They had come straight from Havre, having
sailed from New York to that port, and having also, thanks to a happy
voyage, made land with a promptitude that left Chad Newsome, who had
meant to meet them at the dock, belated. He had received their
telegram, with the announcement of their immediate further advance,
just as he was taking the train for Havre, so that nothing had remained
for him but to await them in Paris. He hastily picked up Strether, at
the hotel, for this purpose, and he even, with easy pleasantry,
suggested the attendance of Waymarsh as well--Waymarsh, at the moment
his cab rattled up, being engaged, under Strether's contemplative
range, in a grave perambulation of the familiar court. Waymarsh had
learned from his companion, who had already had a note, delivered by
hand, from Chad, that the Pococks were due, and had ambiguously,
though, as always, impressively, glowered at him over the circumstance;
carrying himself in a