' If we ARE so merry it's because Chad has understood
so well."
"He has understood amazingly," said Miss Barrace.
"It's wonderful--Strether anticipated for her.
"It's wonderful!" she, to meet it, intensified; so that, face to
face over it, they largely and recklessly laughed. But she
presently added: "Oh I see the principle. If one didn't one
would be lost. But when once one has got hold of it--"
"It's as simple as twice two! From the moment he had to do
something--"
"A crowd"--she took him straight up--"was the only thing? Rather,
rather: a rumpus of sound," she laughed, "or nothing. Mrs.
Pocock's built in, or built out--whichever you call it; she's
packed so tight she can't move. She's in splendid isolation"--
Miss Barrace embroidered the theme.
Strether followed, but scrupulous of justice. "Yet with every one
in the place successively introduced to her."
"Wonderfully--but just so that it does build her out. She's
bricked up, she's buried alive!"
Strether seemed for a moment to look at it; but it brought him to
a sigh. "Oh but she's not dead! It will take more than this to
kill her."
His companion had a pause that might have been for pity. "No, I
can't pretend I think she's finished--or that it's for more than
to-night.
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