“I decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon might be collected, and I concentrated my attention with careful subtlety to this end.”

“she laughed I was aware of becoming involvedin her laughter and being part of it, until herteeth were only accidental stars with a talentfor squad-drill. I was drawn in by short gasps,inhaled at each momentary recovery, lost finallyin the dark caverns of her throat, bruised bythe ripple of unseen muscles. An elderly waiterwith trembling hands was hurriedly spreadinga pink and white checked cloth over the rustygreen iron table, saying: "If the lady andgentleman wish to take their tea in the garden,if the lady and gentleman wish to take theirtea in the garden ..." I decided that if theshaking of her breasts could be stopped, some ofthe fragments of the afternoon might be collected,and I concentrated my attention with carefulsubtlety to this end.”

“It’s…The only way I can get on with my life is by forgetting what went on before. Dave used to tell me that I didn’t have control over what the bastard of my father did to me, and that he’d been punished for it, and I might as well concentrate on the rest of my life, because over that…I had some control and I could decide what to do. I could change it over; I could become anything I wanted if I just tried hard enough.”

“I could hear her babbling away beside me, but I wasn't really paying attention. I could barely focus on anything. My nerve endings seemed to have come alive; they almost jangled with anticipation I was going to see Will. Whatever else, I had that. I could almost feel the miles between us shrinking, as if we were at two ends of some invisible elastic thread.”

“I like her; I could watch her the rest of my life. She has breasts that smile.”

“Before I could stop myself, I punched his arm.“Careful,” he said in a low voice. “They might thinkwe’re flirting.”