She recoiled.

“Remember,” Graham encouraged, “what Dick said at dinner the night Leo fought the dragons — that if it were you, Paula, his wife, who ran away, he would say ‘Bless you, my children.’“

“And that is just why it is so hard, Evan. He is Great Heart. You named him well. Listen — you watch him now. He is as gentle as he said he would be that night — gentle toward me, I mean. And more. You watch him — ”

“He knows? — he has spoken?” Graham broke in.

“He has not spoken, but I am sure he knows, or guesses. You watch him. He won’t compete against you — ”

“Compete!”