How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Then she was standing before me, and suddenly the atmosphere underwent a peculiar change—almost as though the two of us had been suddenly thrust on to some other plane of being altogether. (6.120)
"Some other plane of being" has to be one of the most euphemistic ways of suggesting sexual tension of all time. Stevens can't bring himself to say words like "sex," "love," or "attraction," no matter how many romance novels he reads (see Quote #8 below). He does say, "thrust," though. Heh, heh. "Thrust."
Quote #8
The book was, true enough, what might be described as a "sentimental romance" […]. There was a simple reason for my having taken to perusing such works; it was an extremely efficient way to maintain and develop one's command of the English language. (6.125)
One could think of a thousand other ways of mastering the English language, right? Perhaps Stevens reads sentimental romances because he likes them, pure and simple. But he would never be able to admit this to himself.
Quote #9
It is a recollection of standing alone in the back corridor before the closed door of Miss Kenton's parlour; I was not actually facing the door, but standing with my person half turned towards it, transfixed by indecision as to whether or not I should knock; for at that moment, as I recall, I had been struck by the conviction that behind that very door, just a few yards from me, Miss Kenton was in fact crying. (7.33)
Why doesn't Stevens open the door? Why is he unable to overcome his emotional restraint in order to comfort Miss Kenton, even in a purely friendly way?