"Perhaps that _was_ my reason, rather than helping him," she said.
Dory flushed.

"Oh, I didn't mean to insinuate that!" he protested, and checked himself from saying more.

In their mood each would search the other's every word for a hidden thrust, and would find it.
The constraint between them, which thus definitely entered the stage of deep cleavage where there had never been a joining, persisted until the parting.

Since the wedding he had kissed her but once--on her arrival from Europe.

Then, there was much bustle of greeting from others, and neither had had chance to be self-conscious.