"But it was assumed. As a matter of course. Anyway ... well, when that girl started making passes at you, I thought you could have just as much fun, or even more--she's charming; a real darling, isn't she?--without pairing with me, and then I had to open my big mouth and be the one to keep you from playing games with _anyone except_ me, and I certainly am not going to let you suffer...." "Bunk!" Garlock snorted. "Sheer flapdoodle! Pure psychological prop-wash, started and maintained by men who are either too weak to direct and control their drives or who haven't any real work to occupy their minds. It applies to many men, of course, possibly to most. It does not, however, apply to all, and, it lacks one whole hell of a lot of applying to me. Does that make you feel better?" "Oh, it does ... it does. Thanks, Clee. You know, I like you, a lot." "Do you? Kiss me." She did so. "See?" "You _tricked_ me!" * * * "I did not. I want you to see the truth and face it. Your idealism is admirable, permanent, and shatter-proof; but your starry-eyed schoolgirl's mawkishness is none of the three. You'll have to grow up, some day. In my opinion, forcing yourself to give up one of your hardest-held ideals--virginity--merely because of the utter bilge that those idiot head-shrinkers stuffed you with, is sheer, plain idiocy. I suppose that makes you like me even less, but I'm laying it right on the line." "No ... more. I'll argue with you, when we have time, about some of your points, but the last one--if it's valid--has tremendous force. I didn't know men felt that way. But no matter what my feeling for you really is, I'm really grateful to you for the reprieve ... and you know, Clee, I'm pretty sure you're going to get us back home. If anyone can, you can." "I'm going to try to. Even if I can't, it will be Belle, not you, that I'll take for the long pull. And not because you'd rather have Jim--which you would, of course...." "To be honest, I think I would." "Certainly. He's your type. You're not mine; Belle is. Well, that buttons it up, Brownie, except for one thing. To Jim and Belle and everyone else, we're paired." "Of course. Urbanity, as well as to present a united front to any and all worlds." "Check. So watch your shield." "I always do. That stuff is 'way, 'way down. I'm awfully glad you called me 'Brownie,' Clee. I didn't think you ever would." "I didn't expect to--but I never talked to a woman this way before, either. Maybe it had a mellowing effect." "You don't _need_ mellowing--I do like you a lot, just exactly as you are." "If true, I'm very glad of it. But don't strain yourself; and I mean that literally, not as sarcasm." "I know. I'm not straining a bit, and this'll prove it." She kissed him again, and this time it was a production. "That was an eminently convincing demonstration, Brownie, but don't do it too often."