“This is a good place," he said."There's a lot of liquor," I agreed.”

“I didn't want to kiss you goodbye — that was the trouble — I wanted to kiss you good night — and there's a lot of difference.”

“Do you feel better?' he asked.'I feel fine,' she said. 'There's nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.”

“What kind of a hand is that,' he said. 'Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good.”

“My,' she said. 'We're lucky that you found the place.'We're always lucky,' I said and like a fool I did not knock on wood. There was wood everywhere in that apartment to knock on too.”

“Take a good rest, small bird," he said. "Then go in and take your chance like any man or bird or fish.”

“But walking down the stairs feeling each stair carefully and holding to the banister he thought, I must get her away and get her away as soon as I can without hurting her. Because I am not doing too well at this. That I can promise you. But what else can you do? Nothing, he thought. There's nothing you can do. But maybe, as you go along, you will get good at it.”