In later years the only regret Yates would allow himself to express publicly was over "the desolate wastes of time" that had diminished his productiv… - Richard Yates

Well, marriage is funny, Mike, Harold said once with the wind whipping the vapor of his voice over his shoulder. You can go along for years without ever knowing who you're married to. It's a riddle. You're right, Michael said. It is. Then maybe once in a while you take a look at this girl, this woman, and you think: What's the deal? How come? Why her? Why me? Yeah, I know what you mean, Harold.

exchanging agreeable remarks for no other purpose than to keep silence from closing in.

And she was halfway up the stairs before he decided that his best reply was to make no reply at all.