There was a breeze blowing in gusts, so that sometimes the water from the jet of the fountain fell back into the basin and sometimes, as it fell, it was carried sideways onto the stone rim and the earth beyond. When this happened, the splashing, gurgling sound of the water changed pitch as the water hit the rim or the bare ground. There were scudding clouds in the sky with the sun breaking through and the light changing every few minutes. Watching these changes, he felt a sudden sense of relief, almost a rush of joy, and he knew the worst was over. She also sensed it after a while and cast a sidelong glance at him. She could no longer hurt him as much as before. If she'd left then, he would have done nothing to stop her.
