“What is?”
“The nuisance is that I’m a woman and you’re a man. Can friendship get over that?”
“Love,” said René, “can master everything. I love you. Shall we start with that? That’s clear, anyhow.”
“Clear? Oh, yes; but it means being very certain about it and definite. Some of the charm of love goes. It is gone already from me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t. I’m trying not to pity you. Oh, René, my foolish dear, I only want to love you and help you.”
“It is you who are strong,” he said.
She moved closer to him, so that she could just touch him.
“We shall need all the strength we can get if we are not to be broken—strength and patience.”