"My dear chap, you are one of the most sensitive and kind people I know. But you are a little thoughtless. You imagine that, because Katherine is blind, you are doing her a favor by—by giving her companionship. You feel that her interest in the world can be furthered by your interest in her. This is not the case. I ask you please to leave us alone."
"Us?"
"Yes. You put me in the embarrassing position of having to say that we are very well as we are. I know that Katherine is impressed by your—your mind, and I know that your sympathy is well-intended, but it is misplaced. She needs no sympathy."
"Why not?"
Doctor Farley spread his hands, a gesture usually meant to substitute for words. "Do the strong need sympathy?"
"I think so," Phil said.
Doctor Farley smiled. "Well, then, think of me as the strong one—the one who needs sympathy as the guardian of something precious. Will you give me your sympathy?" He smiled still.
Phil realized that when the A.E.C. man came—when any pretext presented itself—Doctor Farley would throw him to the wolves.
"Katherine is not in love with me," Phil said.
"But are you with her?"