As he stood at her door, case in hand, the moment for the inevitable parting kiss came and in their clumsiness their faces clashed and their lips might have touched but it was sudden, and they drew apart. He was about to say something and she could tell by the suddenness of the in­drawn breath that it would be a farewell false with heartiness and she said instead, “Joe, don’t rush me, give me time”, and once again she pecked at his cheek and drew back to tuck the hair away from her face. He said nothing and she could see the spanielness looming in his eyes, but he gave a quick nod and turned and as he swung the gate she said, “Write to me”, and she could tell by his back that he heard.