In her abstraction she took the ring off her finger, stood it up, and spun it upon the table.

The gold became a diaphanous, glittering globe.

It fell, and the ring was quivering upon the table.
She spun it again and again.

Paul watched, fascinated.
But she was a married woman, and he believed in simple friendship.

And he considered that he was perfectly honourable with regard to her.
It was only a friendship between man and woman, such as any civilised persons might have.
He was like so many young men of his own age.