Page 457 - tender-is-the-night

‘There has always been something between you and me.’
She bit eagerly. ‘Has there, Dick?’
‘Always—I knew your troubles and how brave you were
about them.’ But the old interior laughter had begun inside
him and he knew he couldn’t keep it up much longer.
‘I always thought you knew a lot,’ Mary said enthusiasti-
cally. ‘More about me than any one has ever known. Perhaps
that’s why I was so afraid of you when we didn’t get along
so well.’
His glance fell soft and kind upon hers, suggesting an
emotion underneath; their glances married suddenly, bed-
ded, strained together. Then, as the laughter inside of him
became so loud that it seemed as if Mary must hear it, Dick
switched off the light and they were back in the Riviera
sun.
‘I must go,’ he said. As he stood up he swayed a little; he
did not feel well any more—his blood raced slow. He raised
his right hand and with a papal cross he blessed the beach
from the high terrace. Faces turned upward from several
umbrellas.
‘I’m going to him.’ Nicole got to her knees.
‘No, you’re not,’ said Tommy, pulling her down firmly.
‘Let well enough alone.’

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