She came back from wherever she had been.
"We might sit there just for a little while."
We sat on the flat stone bench and I held Catherine Barkley's hand.
She would not let me put my arm around her.
"Are you very tired?" she asked.
"No."
She looked down at the grass.
"This is a rotten game we play, isn't it?"
"What game?"
"Don't be dull."
"I'm not, on purpose."
"You're a nice boy," she said. "And you play it as well as you know how.
But it's a rotten game."
"Do you always know what people think?"
"Not always.
But I do with you.
You don't have to pretend you love me.
That's over for the evening.
Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"
"But I do love you."
"Please let's not lie when we don't have to.
I had a very fine little show and I'm all right now.
You see I'm not mad and I'm not gone off.
It's only a little sometimes."
I pressed her hand,
"Dear Catherine."
"It sounds very funny now--Catherine.
You don't pronounce it very much alike.
But you're very nice.
You're a very good boy."
"That's what the priest said."
"Yes, you're very good.
And you will come and see me?"
"Of course."
"And you don't have to say you love me.
That's all over for a while." She stood up and put out her hand. "Good-night."
I wanted to kiss her.
"No," she said. "I'm awfully tired."
"Kiss me, though," I said.
"I'm awfully tired, darling."
"Kiss me."
"Do you want to very much?"
"Yes."
We kissed and she broke away suddenly.
"No.
Good-night, please, darling."
We walked to the door and I saw her go in and down the hall.
I liked to watch her move.
She went on down the hall.
I went on home.