@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialIt wasn't, that is, he knew, the "Oh!" of the idiot, however great the superficial resemblance: it was that of the clever, the accomplished man; it was the very specialty of the speaker, and a deal of expensive training and experience had gone to producing it.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialHe recognised it in a moment as less imponderable than it might have appeared, as having indeed positive claims.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.social"Oh!" said the other party while Densher said nothing—occupied as he mainly was on the spot with weighing the sound in question.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialAnd then for the other party: "Mr. Merton Densher—who has just come back from America."
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.social"I don't know whether you know Lord Mark."
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialDensher none the less felt himself brought quickly into relation; Kate's welcome to the visitor became almost precipitately an appeal to her friend, who slowly rose to meet it.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialThe door from the lobby had, as she spoke, been thrown open for a gentleman who, immediately finding her within his view, advanced to greet her before the announcement of his name could reach her companion.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.social"Of course I'm prodigious!"—and, as immediately happened, she gave a further sign of it that he fairly sat watching.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.social"You're prodigious!"
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialShe had spoken with impatience, and her suddenly quitting him had sharpened it; in spite of which he kept his place, only looking up at her.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.social"But so are you, my dear!"
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialBesides, others are free."
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.social"Others can follow their tastes.
@thatiliazdguy.bsky.socialDensher for a little, under this suggestion, might have been seeing their young friend on a pile of cushions and in a perpetual tea-gown, amid flowers and with drawn blinds, surrounded by the higher nobility.