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She glanced at Paul； who was sitting in the chair next to hers； his own tensions betrayed by the angular position of his lean； usually graceful body。 He was watching O'Brian intently； but when he sensed that Carol was looking at him； he turned and smiled。 His smile was even nicer than O'Brian's； and as usual； Carol's spirits were lifted by the sight of it。 He was neither handsome nor ugly； this man she loved； you might even say he was plain； yet his face was enormously appealing because the pleasing； open position of it contained ample evidence of his gentleness and sensitivity。 His hazel eyes were capable of conveying amazingly subtle degrees and mixtures of emotions。 Six years ago； at a university symposium entitled 〃Abnormal Psychology and Modem American Fiction；〃 where Carol had met Paul； the first thing that had drawn her to him had been those warm； expressive eyes； and in the intervening years they had never ceased to intrigue her。 Now he winked； and with that wink he seemed to be saying： Don't worry；
O'Brian is on our side； the application will be accepted； everything will turn out all right； I love you。
She winked back at him and pretended to be confident； even though she was sure he could see through her brave front。
She wished that she could be certain of winning Mr。 O'Brian's approval。 She knew she ought to be overflowing with confidence； for there really was no reason why O'Brian would reject them。 They were healthy and young。 Paul was thirty…five； and she was thirty…one； and those were excellent ages at which to set out upon the adventure they were contemplating。 Both of them were successful in their work。 They were financially solvent； even prosperous。 They were respected in their munity。 Their marriage was happy and trouble…free； stronger now than at any time in the four years since their wedding。 In short； their qualifications for adopting a child were pretty much impeccable； but she worried nonetheless。
She loved children； and she was looking forward to raising one or two of her own。 During the past fourteen years…in which she had earned three degrees at three universities and had established herself in her profession…she had postponed many simple pleasures and had skipped others altogether。 Getting an education and launching her career had always e first。 She had missed too many good parties and had foregone an unremembered number of vacations and getaway weekends。 Adopting a child was one pleasure she did not want to postpone any longer。
She had a strong psychological need…almost a physical need…to be a mother； to guide and shape children； to give them love and understanding。 She was intelligent enough and sufficiently self…aware to
realize that this deep…seated need arose； at least in part； from her inability to conceive a child of her own flesh and blood。
The thing we want most； she thought； is always the thing we cannot have。
She was to blame for her sterility； which was the result of an unforgivable act of stupidity mitted a long time ago； and of course her culpability made her condition harder to bear than it would have been if nature…rather than her own foolishness…had cursed her with a barren womb。 She had been a severely troubled child； for she had been raised by violent； alcoholic parents who had frequently beaten her and who had dealt out large doses of psychological torture。 By the time she was fifteen； she was a hellion； engaged in an angry rebellion against her parents and against the world at large。 She hated everyone in those days； especially herself。 In the blackest hours of her confused and tormented adolescence； she had gotten pregnant。 Frightened； panicky； with no one to turn to； she tried to conceal her condition by wearing girdles； by binding herself with elastic cloth and tape； and by eating as lightly as possible to keep her weight down。 Eventually； however； plications arose because of her attempts to hide her pregnancy； and she nearly died。 The baby was born prematurely； but it was healthy。 She had put it up for adoption and hadn't given it much thought for a couple of years； though these days she often wondered about the child and wished she could have kept it somehow。 At the time； the fact that her ordeal had left her sterile did not depress her； for she didn't think she would ever want to be pregnant again。 But with a lot of help and love from a child psychologist named Grace Mitowski；
who did charity work among juvenile wards of the court； Carol had turned her life pletely around。
She had learned to like herself and； years later； had e to regret the thoughtless actions that had left her barren。
Fortunately； she regarded adoption as a more…than…adequate solution to her problem。 She was capable of giving as much love to an adopted child as she would have given to her own offspring。 She knew she would be a good and caring mother； and she longed to prove it…not to the world but to herself； she never needed to prove anything to anyone but herself； for she was always her own toughest critic。
Mr。 O'Brian looked up from the application and smiled。 His teeth were exceedingly white。 〃This looks really fine；〃 he said； indicating the form he had just finished reading。 〃In fact； it's splendid。 Not everyone that applies to us has credentials like these。〃
〃It's kind of you to say so；〃 Paul told him。
O'Brian shook his head。 〃Not at all。 It's simply the truth。 Very impressive。〃
Carol said； 〃Thank you。〃
Leaning back in his chair； folding his hands on his stomach； O'Brian said； 〃I do have a couple of questions。 I'm sure they're the same ones the remendations mittee will ask me； so I might as well get your responses now and save a lot of back…and…forth later on。〃
Carol stiffened again。
O'Brian apparently noticed her reaction； for he quickly said； 〃Oh； it's nothing terribly serious。 Really； it isn't。 Believe me…I won't be asking you half as many questions as I ask most couples who e to see us。〃
In spite of O'Brian's assurances； Carol remained tense。
Outside； the storm…dark afternoon sky grew steadily darker as the thunderheads changed color from gray to blue black； thickened； and pressed closer to the earth。
O'Brian swiveled in his chair to face Paul。 〃Dr。 Tracy； would you say you're an overachiever？〃
Paul seemed surprised by the question。 He blinked and said； 〃I'm not sure what you mean。〃
〃You are the chairman of the department of English at the college； aren't you？〃
〃Yes。 I'm on sabbatical this semester； and the vice…chairman is handling most things for the time being。 Otherwise； I've been in charge of the department for the past year and a half。〃
〃Aren't you rather young to hold such a post？〃
〃Somewhat young；〃 Paul admitted。 〃But that's no credit to me。 You see； it's a thankless position； all work and no glory。 My senior colleagues in the department craftily maneuvered me into it so that none of them would be stuck with the job。〃
〃You're being modest。〃
〃No； I'm really not；〃 Paul said。 〃It's nothing much。〃
Carol knew that he was being modest。 The departmental chairmanship was a prized position； an honor。 But she understood why Paul was playing it down； he had been unsettled by O'Brian's use of the word overachiever。