“Vi!” he said. “Poor old girl, I—”

He was coming forward when she called out again “Stay there, Fritz!”

He stopped.

“Why?” he asked.

“I—I—wait a minute. Shut the door.”

He shut the door. She was still looking away from him.

“Do you understand?” she said, still in a sharp voice.

“Understand what?”

“That I’m altered, that the accident’s altered me—very much?”

“I know. The doctor said something. But you look all right.”