U- , already dressed, was at the door. I made a step toward her and pressed her hand as hard as though I hoped to squeeze out of it drop by drop what I needed.
“Listen. … Her name, you know whom I am talking of—did you report her name? No? Tell the truth, I must. … I care not what happens, but tell the truth!”
“No.”
“No? But why not, since you. …”
Her lower lip turned out like the lip of that boy and her face … tears were running down her cheeks.
“Because I … I was afraid that if I did you might … you would stop lov—Oh, I cannot, I could not!”
I understood. It was the truth. Absurd, ridiculous, human truth. I opened the door.