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three or four men would be standing around Ellen Grant. For no good reason, the picture was as clear as though he were in the midst of it.
    As soon as he could, he would buy something beautiful for Lily. There was a sorry ache in his heart. Why? Because she did not own a diamond and live in an elegant old house? What nonsense was this? But she was so soft, his Lily. Under her brisk, efficient little ways, she was so vulnerable. God, never let anything hurt her.
    â€œYou look sad,” she observed.
    â€œNot sad. Loving.”
    When she smiled, the pink came back to her face.“We’ll be together next May,” she said. “It’s not so far off. That’s what I tell myself every night before I fall asleep.”
    â€œWe had a great time,” Walt reported. “Somebody down the street has a pool, and we all went over there. Nobody was thrown in with all his clothes on, either. Ellen was surprised that you hadn’t come.”
    â€œI never said I was going to.”
    â€œYou were supposed to let her know.”
    Yes, he had told her he would. But it was not the worst offense to have forgotten. It was much ado about nothing. And he said so rather crossly.
    â€œShe likes you,” Walt said. “She talked about you.”
    â€œShe doesn’t know anything about me.”
    Eddy protested, “For God’s sake, Walt, you’ve met Lily. Stop pestering him.”
    â€œOkay, no harm meant. I only thought he’d like to know. Practically anybody would have Ellen if he could.” Walt laughed. “I would. Trouble is, she doesn’t want me.”
    In spite of himself, Robb was curious to know what Ellen could have said about him. He should have allowed Walt to continue. But still, what childish vanity!
    On his way downtown a few days later, he could have walked on Assembly Street. It would be a shadier walk and only a trifle longer than the way past the hospital, but he took the hospital route, starting out as he had done before at two o’clock. As he approached the front steps, he hoped that he would not see her; yethe slowed his walk. Perhaps she would not see him, and he would safely get past. I’m of two minds, he thought.
    â€œI was sorry you didn’t come last week,” said Ellen.
    He stopped abruptly, as if it were a surprising coincidence that they should encounter each other here again.
    â€œWell, I—” he began.
    â€œYour friend Eddy told me you weren’t feeling well.”
    Loyal Eddy, to make a polite excuse for him! “I should have let you know. I apologize.”
    â€œApology accepted.”
    â€œI should tell you that I’m usually not that rude.”
    Why was he talking this way? He hadn’t really been rude. He was sounding more like a little boy who had been naughty.
    â€œI wanted to see you,” she said. “That’s why I planned the party in the first place. I like you.”
    Lily would never admit a thing like that.…
    â€œI like you, too,” he answered, as expected.
    â€œThen let’s have another iced coffee. All right with you?”
    â€œOf course.”
    They got into her car. “I thought last time that you didn’t like me, and I admit it bothered me,” she said. “I was a little angry and a little hurt. But eventually I decided to get over it and try again.”
    â€œI’m glad you did.”
    In the coffee shop, they took the same table they had had the first time. It was quiet, as it had been then, with the same lazy traffic moving past the window.
    â€œI burn so easily,” she explained, removing her hat. “That’s why I wear it in this weather.”
    He who was so fluent, so quick with apt words, thought of nothing better to say than that it would soon be fall and then the weather would change.
    She was regarding him as though he were transparent, as though all his thoughts were visible. Her bright mouth bore a flicker of a smile,