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           Hismannerwasoftenoffensivelysupercilious,andthenagainmodestandself-effacing,almosttremulous.

           Connieandhewereattachedtooneanother,inthealoofmodernway.Hewasmuchtoohurtinhimself,thegreatshockofhismaiming,tobeeasyandflippant.Hewasahurtthing.AndassuchConniestucktohimpassionately.

           Butshecouldnothelpfeelinghowlittleconnexionhereallyhadwithpeople.Theminerswere,inasense,hisownmen;buthesawthemasobjectsratherthanmen,partsofthepitratherthanpartsoflife,cruderawphenomenaratherthanhumanbeingsalongwithhim.Hewasinsomewayafraidofthem,hecouldnotbeartohavethemlookathimnowhewaslame.Andtheirqueer,crudelifeseemedasunnaturalasthatofhedgehogs.

           Hewasremotelyinterested;butlikeamanlookingdownamicroscope,orupatelescope.Hewasnotintouch.Hewasnotinactualtouchwithanybody,save,traditionally,withWragby,and,throughtheclosebondoffamilydefence,withEmma.Beyondthisnothingreallytouchedhim.Conniefeltthatsheherselfdidn’treally,notreallytouchhim;perhapstherewasnothingtogetatultimately;justanegationofhumancontact.

           Yethewasabsolutelydependentonher,heneededhereverymoment.Bigandstrongashewas,hewashelpless.Hecouldwheelhimselfaboutinawheeledchair,andhehadasortofbath-chairwithamotorattachment,inwhichhecouldpuffslowlyroundthepark.Butalonehewaslikealostthing.HeneededConnietobethere,toassurehimheexistedatall.

           Stillhewasambitious.