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covered his skin, but some on his ribs were exposedand she shook her head. "There is something amiss," she murmured, more to herself than to him. "The others are fading to green and yellow, and there is no swelling." |
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Gently she felt around, unconsciously coming closer. After a moment Walter turned his head away very sharply. "I am sorry," Sybelle said. "Did I hurt you? Is that where it is most tender?" |
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"No," Walter replied in a stifled voice. |
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"This is no time to be a great hero," Sybelle retorted sharply. "I will think better of you if you cry out and let me discover what is wrong." |
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"I am not being a hero. I tell you I am no more tender where your hand is than any other place." |
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"Then why do you look away?" she asked, for Walter's head was turned as far from her as possible. |
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He began to shake with laughter. "Because if I turn my head and then open my mouth to speak, I will end up taking suck." |
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Sybelle gasped and stepped back hurriedly, realizing that her well-developed breast was just about where Walter's mouth would be if he looked straight ahead. "Why did you not say I was too close?" she asked querulously. |
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She was not annoyed with Walter, of course, but with herself. She had resolved after that first embarrassing exchange about Walter needing a wife to watch what she said and did and to remember that he was not her father, brother, or uncle, but she had forgotten again. For safety's sake she moved around behind him, where she could see just as well and not create a problem. |
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There was a brief pause. Walter knew the question was rhetorical and that Sybelle neither expected nor wanted an answer. He also knew that he probably should not answer, but it was irresistible. |
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"Why should I complain over what gave me pleasure?" he asked. |
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"Do not be crude," Sybelle snapped, but she spoiled the stricture with a smothered giggle. |
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She was not, she thought ruefully, following her mother's advice very well about keeping Walter in doubt, but it was very difficult when he was so comical. The first comment about needing a wife had been an honest mistake, and after |
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