t is, to which she came in time. "I don't know whether it's
before you as a possibility that, left to himself, Mr. Chad may after
all go back. I judge that it IS more or less so before you, from what
you just now said of him."

Her guest had his eyes on her, kindly but attentively, as if foreseeing
what was to follow this. "I don't think it will be for the money." And
then as she seemed uncertain: "I mean I don't believe it will be for
that he'll give her up."

"Then he WILL give her up?"

Strether waited a moment, rather slow and deliberate now, drawing out a
little this last soft stage, pleading with her in various suggestive
and unspoken ways for patience and understanding. "What were you just
about to ask me?"

"Is there anything he can do that would make you patch it up?"

"With Mrs. Newsome?"

Her assent, as if she had had a delicacy about sounding the name, was
only in her face; but she added with it: "Or is there anything he can
do that would make HER try it?"

"To patch it up with me?" His answer came at last in a conclusive
headshake. "There's nothing any one can do. It's over. Over for both
of us."

Maria wondered, seemed a little to doubt. "Are you so sure for her?"

"Oh yes--sure now. Too much has happened. I'm different for her."

She took it in then, drawing a deeper breath. "I see. So that as
she's different for YOU--"

"Ah but," he interrupted, "she's not." And as Miss Gostrey wondered
again: "She's the same. She's more than ever the same. But I do what
I didn't before--I SEE her."

He spoke gravely and as if responsibly--since he had to pronounce; and
the effect of it was slightly solemn, so that she simply exclaimed
"Oh!" Satisfied and grateful, however, she showed in her own next
words an acceptance of his statement. "What then do you go home to?"

He had pushed his plate a little away, occupied with another side of
the matter; taking refuge verily in that side and feeling so moved that
he soon found himself on his feet. He was affected in advance by what
he believed might come from her, and he would have liked to forestall
it and deal with it tenderly; yet in the presence of it he wished
still more to be--though as smoothly as possible--deterrent and
conclusive. He put her question by for the moment; he told her more
about Chad. "It would have been impossible to meet me more than he did
last night on the question of the infamy of not sticking to her."

"Is tha