“Don't—please,” she said, very low.
Again no sound.
Again at length, “Christine!”
“Yes?”
“Do you mind my calling you by your first name—Christine?”
“No—not if you like to.”
“Do you think—you—could ever call me—by mine?”
“I don't know.”
“Won't you try? It—it would make me very happy.”
“El-El-ias—” so softly that it sounded more like a little sigh than like a word.