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           Hecontinuedabithuskily:

           "I’vefallenforalotofpeople—girls—andIguessyouhave,too—boys,Imean,but,honestly,you—"hebrokeoffsuddenlyandleanedforward,chinonhishands:"Oh,what’stheuse—you’llgoyourwayandIsupposeI’llgomine."

           Silenceforamoment.Isabellewasquitestirred;shewoundherhandkerchiefintoatightball,andbythefaintlightthatstreamedoverher,droppeditdeliberatelyonthefloor.Theirhandstouchedforaninstant,butneitherspoke.Silenceswerebecomingmorefrequentandmoredelicious.Outsideanotherstraycouplehadcomeupandwereexperimentingonthepianointhenextroom.Aftertheusualpreliminaryof"chopsticks,"oneofthemstarted"BabesintheWoods"andalighttenorcarriedthewordsintotheden:

           "Givemeyourhand

           I’llunderstand

           We’reofftoslumberland."

           IsabellehummeditsoftlyandtrembledasshefeltAmory’shandcloseoverhers.

           "Isabelle,"hewhispered."YouknowI’mmadaboutyou.Youdogiveadarnaboutme."

           "Yes."

           "Howmuchdoyoucare—doyoulikeanyonebetter?"

           "No."Hecouldscarcelyhearher,althoughhebentsonearthathefeltherbreathagainsthischeek.

           "Isabelle,I’mgoingbacktocollegeforsixlongmonths,andwhyshouldn’twe—ifIcouldonlyjusthaveonethingtorememberyouby—"

           "Closethedoor...."Hervoicehadjuststirredsothathehalfwonderedwhethershehadspokenatall.Asheswungthedoorsoftlyshut,themusicseemedquiveringjustoutside.