Tongue-tiedbyinexperienceandbyexcessofardor, wooingunwittinglyandawkwardly, , , , saveatmeetingandparting; butthatinhandlingthebicycles, instrappingonthebooksofversetheycarriedintothehills, andinconningthepagesofbookssidebyside, , too, forherhairtobrushhischeek, andforshouldertotouchshoulder, ; whilehedesiredgreatly, whentheytiredofreading, , inthepast, hehadrestedhisheadonmanylaps, and, usually, 'slaphadbeentheeasiestthingintheworlduntilnow, andnowhefoundRuth', inhisreticence, , , whilehe, sensingthegrowingcloseness, longedtodarebutwasafraid.

Oncehedared, oneafternoon, whenhefoundherinthedarkenedlivingroomwithablindingheadache.

"Nothingcandoitanygood," shehadansweredhisinquiries."Andbesides, Idon''tpermitme."

"Icancureit, Ithink, andwithoutdrugs," wasMartin'sanswer."Iamnotsure, ofcourse, butI'', 't."

Scarcelyhadhishandstouchedherheadwhenshesigheddeeply.

"Thatissogood," shesaid.

Shespokeonceagain, halfanhourlater, whensheasked, "Aren'tyoutired?"

Thequestionwasperfunctory, : Lifepouredfromtheendsofhisfingers, drivingthepainbeforeit, orsoitseemedtoher, untilwiththeeasementofpain, shefellasleepandhestoleaway.

Shecalledhimupbytelephonethateveningtothankhim.

"Isleptuntildinner," shesaid."Youcuredmecompletely, , andIdon'tknowhowtothankyou."