James: to hold on by
Marius Hancu
"to hold on by"
is that
to use as a reliable reference?
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[Strether talks with little Bilham about Sarah Pocock checking up on
himself and setting up a confrontation]
"Well then," his friend replied, "there you are; I give you my
impression for what it's worth. Mrs. Pocock has SEEN, and that's to-
night how she sits there. If you were to have a glimpse of her face
you'd understand me. She has made up her mind—to the sound of
expensive music."
Strether took it freely in. "Ah then I shall have news of her."
"I don't want to frighten you, but I think that likely. However,"
little Bilham continued, "if I'm of the least use to you to hold on by
—!"
Henry James, The Ambassadors, p. 283
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/432/432-h/432-h.htm
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Thanks.
Marius Hancu
Bohgosity BumaskiL
"Marius Hancu" <marius...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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