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Spires and Gargoyles
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.
