"What else?" He moved uneasily.
She ignored that question. "If you could get through without me, would you do it?"
"That depends on circumstances. If I could get through without you, and do it quickly, and could not get through with you"—he paused—"I should leave you behind."
"And suppose, when I can walk, I do that myself?"
He smiled. "As you please," he said quietly. "I advise you to make your estimate well, however. My hands and strength are assets which you might have trouble in doing without."
"And do you estimate the whole of our relationship on a carefully itemized basis of material gain and loss?"
"Claire, isn't that your understanding, stated by yourself, of our partnership?"
"Yes, but—well, it's hard to estimate human companionship."
"I know it." He shifted nearer the fire. "I've tried to estimate yours."
"Indeed?" Her voice was full of interest.