At last she said in a voice edged with exasperation, “You can sleep in my bed, there’s no other except the couch but that’s hard and there’s no need”. She kissed him quickly on the cheek and was gone. He stood for a long time on the balcony and at last turned into the house, undress­ed and lay down beside her. Both lay rigidly, he aching to let his hand caress the curve of breast and hip, she gritting her teeth, hoping he wouldn’t.