Softly he untangled his feet and put his shoes on again; she did the same. They tiptoed away to the road and set out at a good stride. The starlight was blue. “I kept thinking of poetry,” he explained, “and I couldn’t get to sleep. It kept going round and round in my head.” “What poetry?” “Just little pieces that I’ve read. I thought this one over and over: “While waves far off in a pale rose twilight Crash on a white sand shore. “I don’t think it’s right, but that’s the way I remember it.” “There’s just one poem I remember,” she said. “You know—— “From too much love of living, From hope and fear set free.... “Do you like that one too?” he asked. Incredible! They stared at each other. The light of a ranch house was ahead of them, and they paused. “Let’s go back,” she said. He nodded and they turned. “Listen, Gin,” he said thoughtfully, “I know what Madden meant when you got sore at him. You don’t have to worry about me. I know what he meant.” “Of course you do.” “Only I don’t like to talk about it, that’s all. I just don’t like it and I won’t talk about it. You see? I don’t want you to think....” “Of course I see. Never mind.” “I don’t want you or Madden to think I’m dumb, or....” “I don’t think you’re dumb at all.” They turned up the field again towards the fire. “Gin,” he asked, “do you think that any other three people ever had a better time?” “That’s what I was wondering. I don’t see how they could, the way most of them live.” He sighed. “I wonder if we’ll go on feeling like this. Sometimes I’m afraid.” “Afraid of what? Of course lots of things could happen. We might have an accident, or perhaps....” “That isn’t what I mean. I’m not sure what I do mean. But—well, if one of us should die it would be terrible, but that isn’t the most dangerous thing.” “What is it, then?” She was whispering now, standing near the fire. Teddy was still snoring. “People change so. You might change, Gin. Even I....” She shook her head and he thought that she looked very sad. “I’m grown up,” she said. “I’m more grown up than you are, and I know about myself. You’re the one who will change, or Teddy. I don’t want to go back; I don’t want to do anything but this.” He believed her, and felt lighter. “Don’t worry about me. I don’t want anything else either. Look at the star up there, over that tree. It’s green, isn’t it?” Teddy tossed a little, and mumbled. “We’d better be quiet,” whispered Gin. “Go on back to sleep.” CHAPTER EIGHTEEN