And besides, if he was really going to step out of the club, so to speak, then maybe he’d go even further. Little Gorham was going to be all right, with the private education he was providing, and his mother’s money. Sarah’s expectations for her children would be quite different. What if they moved out to some place like Greenwich, where the town had schools that were just as good as the private schools? You could do that. As he thought about all this, Charlie felt as if his life was flooded with a bright new light. He felt a sense of freedom.

In short, he was a middle-aged man in love with a younger woman.

The day was pleasantly warm. It was May, almost June. They had just been to look at a collection of prints in the New York Public Library, and they had come out onto its broad steps.

“There’s a bit of a family tradition associated with this place,” Charlie said to Sarah.

“There is?”

“Dates back to the time when it used to be a reservoir. It’s where my great-grandfather proposed to my great-grandmother. In the street somewhere, I suppose, though that would be a bit dangerous nowadays.”

“Lethal. Were they happy?”

“Yes. It was a very successful marriage, as far as I know.”

“That’s nice.”

Suddenly Charlie went down on one knee.

“Sarah, will you marry me?”

She laughed. “I get it. That must have been very romantic.”

But Charlie didn’t get up.

“Sarah Adler, will you marry me?”

A couple of people were coming up the steps. They looked at Charlie curiously. Then they started to whisper to each other.

“Are you serious, Charlie?”

“Never more so in my life. I love you, Sarah. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Charlie, I didn’t imagine …” She paused. “Can I think about this a little while?”

“Whatever time you need.”

“Charlie, I really … You caught me by surprise. I’m so flattered. Are you sure about this?” She smiled. “I think you’d better get up now, you’re collecting a crowd.” It was true. There were half a dozen people watching them now, some of them laughing. As he got up, she kissed him. “I’m really going to have to think about this.”

Rose Master was most surprised, two days later, when George the doorman called up to inform her, in a voice that suggested he was keeping the visitor outside on the sidewalk, that there was a person called Miss Adler who desired to see her.

“Send her up,” said Rose. She met Sarah at the door herself, and once they were in the living room, she was even more surprised when Sarah asked her if she might speak to her in confidence. “Of course you may,” she said guardedly, “if that is what you wish.”

“Has Charlie spoken to you about me?” the girl said.

“No.” He hadn’t.

“He wants to marry me.”

“Oh. I see.”