these is my words.

"one thing i know," whispered Savannah, "is that if he was quiet, and you were quiet, and neither of you minded, then you are in love."

"what? i've never heard of such a thing," i said. "why should being quiet mean you're in love?"

"because," she said. "that means you aren't nervous with each other, or affected, or likely to be hiding intentions behind too much conversation. a friendly silence can speak between two who will walk together a long way," she said.



well, he shocked me good, for he threw down his hat and said, "damnation, Sarah, you can take the starch right out of a man. what is it you want? what will it take to make you want to marry me?"

and so i turned around and smiled a tiny smile. "that," i said, "was the right question." then suddenly i couldn't believe what was coming out of my mouth, as if i had practiced a speech, but i hadn't at all. "all it will take, Jack Elliot, is for you to swear that you hold no secret longings for some other woman, and that when you say you love me, you mean it."