Nobody had to tell him what a triumph of masculinity it was to have a young whore offer herself to you free of charge. He didn’t even need From Here to Eternity to tell him that, though he would always remember how that novel came quickly to mind as he drew her face up closer to his own. She had made him feel profoundly strong. “Oh, that’s nice,” he said huskily, and he kissed her. Then, just before kissing her again, he said, “Oh, that’s awfully nice, Christine.”