Page 214 - tender-is-the-night

walked through the countryside to the tram station. As he
reached the platform, with spring twilight gilding the rails
and the glass in the slot machines, he began to feel that the
station, the hospital, was hovering between being centrip-
etal and centrifugal. He felt frightened. He was glad when
the substantial cobble-stones of Zurich clicked once more
under his shoes.
He expected to hear from Nicole next day but there was
no word. Wondering if she was ill, he called the clinic and
talked to Franz.
‘She came downstairs to luncheon yesterday and to-day,’
said Franz. ‘She seemed a little abstracted and in the clouds.
How did it go off?’
Dick tried to plunge over the Alpine crevasse between
the sexes.
‘We didn’t get to it—at least I didn’t think we did. I tried
to be distant, but I didn’t think enough happened to change
her attitude if it ever went deep.’
Perhaps his vanity had been hurt that there was no coup
de grâce to administer.
‘From some things she said to her nurse I’m inclined to
think she understood.’
‘All right.’
‘It was the best thing that could have happened. She
doesn’t seem over-agitated—only a little in the clouds.’
‘All right, then.’
‘Dick, come soon and see me.’

214 Tender is the Night