“ ‘No, Goblin, he’s not!’ I leaned towards him. I whispered. ‘He’s good for us. Remember how Lynelle was good? That’s how this man is. I knew it the moment he started talking to us.’

“Of course Nash and Aunt Queen could hear this, and Aunt Queen said at once: ‘I’m so supremely overjoyed. Quinn, dear, don’t drink that martini too fast. The wine I’ve chosen is excellent.’

“Goblin continued to stare forward.

“ ‘Never mind him for now,’ I said. ‘I think the hospital stay has exhausted him. Nash—I presume you do want me to call you Nash’ (’Oh, absolutely,’ he replied) ‘—we’ve just been through a peculiar ordeal upstairs and—.’

“Before I could say more I heard Goblin’s ominous monotone: ‘Europe, I can’t,’ he said. ‘Too far for me. You remember New York. You talk like a fool. Goblin Quinn one person.’

“It was clear that no one else could hear him.

“ ‘I know,’ I replied aloud. ‘I understand. All right. We’ll think on it.’

“ ‘I once thought,’ he went on in the same chilling voice, ‘Europe existed in pictures and stories. Then Aunt Queen called from Europe, we saw movies of Europe, Lynelle taught you about Europe. Europe is real and far away. No going to Europe. No. Do this and we split apart. Quinn Goblin one person.’

“My anxiety was cresting. Plates of steaming food were being set down, wineglasses filled, and all the world of this restaurant saw me whispering to empty space, but I had no intention of weakening.

“ ‘Just listen to this man,’ I said. ‘Listen to Aunt Queen. It doesn’t mean we have to go.’ I leaned closer to him, dropping my whispering even lower. ‘I’m just humoring them, you see, I have to do it. Nash can be my teacher at Blackwood Farm. We’ll be together. Goblin, look at me.’

“ ‘No, I don’t want to look at you,’ he replied. ‘You are sly.’

“ ‘God in Heaven,’ I declared in a louder voice. ‘What do you want of me? I’m giving you my total loyalty. Nash, tell him that you can be my tutor at Blackwood Farm. It’s possible, isn’t it?’

“Nash stared intently at what he thought was Goblin’s face, and he wasn’t very far off, as I saw it.

“ ‘Of course, I’d be delighted to teach Quinn at Blackwood Farm. The place is beautiful,’ he said. ‘Goblin, I’m new here. I want for you to approve of me. I know full well that Quinn will only accept me if you do.’

“ ‘Yes, that’s it, that’s why we’re here!’ I said forthrightly. ‘Oh, if you could only see him,’ I said to Nash. ‘To me he’s as solid as you.’ I reached over and took Goblin’s right hand. ‘I love you, Goblin. It’s love between us.’ I kissed his cheek.