“You're flattering me. You make me feel quite shy,” she said. “You know HIM, too,” nodding toward Tembarom.
“Oh, yes,” he replied, and he looked up with a smile. “He is the one who remembers. You said you did.” He had turned to Tembarom.
“You bet your life I do,” Tembarom answered. “And you will, too, before long.”
“If I did not try so hard,” said Strangeways, thoughtfully. “It seems as if I were shut up in a room, and so many things were knocking at the doors—hundreds of them—knocking because they want to be let in. I am damnably unhappy—damnably.” He hung his head and stared at the floor. Tembarom put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a friendly shake.
“Don't you worry a bit,” he said. “You take my word for it. It'll all come back. I'm working at it myself.” Strangeways lifted his head.
“You are the one I know best. I trust you.” But there was the beginning of a slight drag in his voice. “I don't always—quite recollect—your name. Not quite. Good heavens! I mustn't forget that.”
Little Ann was quite ready.
“You won't,” she said, “because it's different from other names. It begins with a letter—just a letter, and then there is the name. Think.”
“Yes, yes,” he said anxiously.
Little Ann bent forward and fixed her eyes on his with concentrated suggestion. They had never risked confusing him by any mention of the new name. She began to repeat letters of the alphabet slowly and distinctly until she reached the letter T.