want their love.’

His face was full of real perplexity.

‘Don’t I?’ he said. ‘It’s the problem I can’t solve. I KNOW I want a perfect and complete relationship with you: and we’ve nearly got it — we really have. But beyond that. DO I want a real, ultimate relationship with Gerald? Do I want a final, almost extra-human relationship with him — a relationship in the ultimate of me and him — or don’t I?’

She looked at him for a long time, with strange bright eyes, but she did not answer.