LoM - Chapter Eight - Jack and Stephen

[ylla]

His had been a naturally cheerful countenance until all joy was driven out of it, a fine ruddy face whose lines and creases had been formed by laughter and smiling; now it was essentially the same again, ruddier if anything, and lit by eyes that seemed an even brighter blue. Stephen felt his sadness and near-desperation recede, almost vanish, as they talked and talked

Jack's side of the balance goes up, and Stephen's goes down - but at least he has Jack's happiness to comfort him.