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THE   AMBASSADORS
that guarded the edge of the Row, a particularly crooked and hud-
dled street-view. " He thinks us sophisticated, he thinks us worldly,
he thinks us wicked, he thinks us all sorts of queer things," Strether
reflected; for it was wondrous, the vague quantities that our friend
had, within a couple of short days, acquired the habit of con-
veniently and conclusively lumping together. There seemed more-
over a direct connection between some such inference and a sudden
grim dash taken by Waymarsh to the opposite side. This move-
ment was startlingly sudden, and his companions at first supposed
him to have espied, to be pursuing, the glimpse of an acquaintance.
They next made out, however, that an open door had instantly re-
ceived him, and they then recognized him as engulfed in the estab-
lishment of a jeweller, behind whose glittering front he was lost to
view. The act had somehow the note of a demonstration, and it
left each of the others to show a face almost of fear. But Miss
Gostrey broke into a laugh.   "What's the matter with him?"
" Well," said Strether, " he can't stand it."
"But can't stand what?"
" Anything.    Europe."
"Then how will that jeweller help him?"
Strether seemed to make it out, from their standpoint, between
the interstices of arrayed watches, of close-hung dangling gewgaws.
" You'll see."
"Ah, that's just what—if he buys anything—I'm afraid of:
that I shall see something rather dreadful."
Strether studied the finer appearances. "He may buy every-
thing."
" Then don't you think we ought to follow him ?"
" Not for worlds. Besides, we can't. We're paralyzed. We ex-
change a long, scared look; we publicly tremble.    The thing is,
And
you see, we ' realize.'   He has struck for freedom."
She wondered, but she laughed.   " Ah, what a price to pay!
I was preparing some for him so cheap."
" No, no," Strether went on, frankly amused now; " don't call it
that: the kind of freedom you deal in is dear." Then as to justify
himself: " Am I not, in my way, trying it?   It's this."
" Being here, you mean, with me ?"
" Yes, and talking to you as I do.   I've known you a few hours,
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