“Such things can, and should be reduced,” he said. “I’d have been impatient, myself.” He hesitated, unable to keep from staring at the soft line of her throat where each shadow lay like a bruise upon her skin. This intimation of her feeling for light, of limbs too tender, made him lift his intense eyes to her own which were even more brilliant. “Please,” he continued, “will you please let me take you home?”
Now, Deane saw him differently, with more excitement. What an enigma! And what a charming transition from his faint braggadocio (or was it!) to this straightforward question. She knew that he was waiting for an answer, yet she was silent. Silent while they kept turning their heads to reassure each other like naughty children in the cool green brush and willows by a railroad track. They knew. They understood completely; and Martin, in this Roman anticipation, shivered; and when at last they did stand up to separate only for a moment they still seemed to cling together helplessly. Once, as they crossed the floor, Martin paused, and Deane, aware of his intention, went on alone. She disappeared into the hallway, and the sight of her sweet entirety, her gown, the thought beneath it made Martin caustic and erect. Only then did he look around to see that Drew and Roberts were observing him. As he came up to them, Drew greeted him warmly, but Roberts held his face away.
“We were talking of compassion,” said Drew, smiling. “It takes sophistry, Martin.” He turned to his other friend. “Isn’t that true, Roberts?” he asked.
“It takes common sense,” said the adviser.
“It takes that, too,” said Martin. “It takes sophistry and common sense and a hundred other things. But I prefer to leave it to the Giver.”
“Right,” said Roberts angrily. “It takes the god-damned miserable Giver!” Then more softly, “Deane Idara is a remarkable woman, Martin. You realize that she has recently suffered a severe shock?”
“No! A shock, you say?”
Roberts’ eyes shone above the sudden pallor of his cheeks.
“Yes,” he said. “She lost her husband only a very short while ago.”