They were thus, on either side,
TRYING the other side, and all for some reason that broke the stillness
like some unprovoked harsh note. It seemed to him again, within the
limit, that he had but one thing to do--to settle their common question
by some sign of surprise and joy. He hereupon gave large play to
these things, agitating his hat and his stick and loudly calling out--
a demonstration that brought him relief as soon as he had seen it
answered. The boat, in mid-stream, still went a little wild--
which seemed natural, however, while Chad turned round, half
springing up; and his good friend, after blankness and wonder,
began gaily to wave her parasol. Chad dropped afresh to his paddles
and the boat headed round, amazement and pleasantry filling the air
meanwhile, and relief, as Strether continued to fancy, superseding
mere violence. Our friend went down to the water under this odd
impression as of violence averted--the violence of their having
"cut" him, out there in the eye of nature, on the assumption that
he wouldn't know it. He awaited them with a face from which he
was conscious of not being able quite to banish this idea that they
would have gone on, not seeing and not knowing, missing their dinner
and disappointing their hostess, had he himself taken a line to match.
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