"Thank you. But I thought," he continued, "you had
exactly NO plan 'for' him."
"Well then call it my plan for myself--which may be well, as you
say, to have none. His situation, don't you see? is reduced now to
the bare facts one has to recognise. Mamie doesn't want him, and
he doesn't want Mamie: so much as that these days have made
clear. It's a thread we can wind up and tuck in."
But little Bilham still questioned. "YOU can--since you seem so
much to want to. But why should I?"
Poor Strether thought it over, but was obliged of course to admit
that his demonstration did superficially fail. "Seriously, there
is no reason. It's my affair--I must do it alone. I've only my
fantastic need of making my dose stiff."
Little Bilham wondered. "What do you call your dose?"
"Why what I have to swallow. I want my conditions unmitigated."
He had spoken in the tone of talk for talk's sake, and yet with an
obscure truth lurking in the loose folds; a circumstance presently
not without its effect on his young friend. Little Bilham's eyes
rested on him a moment with some intensity; then suddenly, as if
everything had cleared up, he gave a happy laugh. It seemed to say
that if pretending, or even trying, or still even hoping, to be
able to care for Mamie would be of use, he was all there for the
job.
Pages:
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533