,,*APT] ,,IX -- ,,MY ,,H]O9E4
  ,:5 X 0 "KN T ,I _H 2GUN ANO!R /ORY MY
"M MI<T ASK :AT X 0 6BE AB ? "T4
  ,8,F9E WE C GUESS :O X IS AB10' MY
SI/] WD SAY PO9T$LY4
  ,8,MAYBE Y C GUESS1 B X IS 2Y ME10'
SAYS MY "M1 )! MEEK;S ( "O :O "KS T %E
IS A DULL P]SON4
  ,MY SI/] SCORN$ H] AT S* "TS4 ,8,:AT
WOMAN IS 9 ALL 8 BOOKS80' %E WD DEM&4
  ,8,I'M SURE ,I CANNA SAY10' REPLIES MY
"M DET]M9$LY4 ,8,I ?"\ ! WOM5 7 DI6]5T E
"T40'
  ,8,"M1 ,I WOND] Y C 2 S AUDACI\S6 ,F9E
Y "K :AT WOMAN ,I M1N40'
  ,8,H[ C ,I "K8 ,:AT WOMAN IS X8 ,Y %D
BE> 9 M9D T ,I H9NA YR CL"E;S0' 7!Y 7
3/ANTLY GIV+ EA* O!R LL KNOCKS74
  ,8,I WON'T GIVE Y ! SATISFAC;N ( SAY+
H] "N4 ,B ? ,I W SAY1 X IS HI< "T HE 0
KEEP+ H] \ ( 8 BOOKS40'
  ,& !N Z USUAL MY "M WD GIVE H]F AWAY
UNCONSCI\SLY4 ,8,T IS :AT ,I TELL HM10'
%E SAYS *UCKL+1 ,8& HE TRIES 6KEEP ME \1
B HE CANNA2 X'S M ?AN HE C D60'
  ,ON AN EV5+ AF MY "M _H G"O 6B$1 ! F/
*APT] WD 2 BR"\ UP/AIRS1 & ,I R1D1 SITT+
AT ! FOOT (! B$1 :ILE MY SI/] WAT*$
6MAKE MY "M 2HAVE H]F1 & MY "F CRI$
,H'%6 :5 "! 7 9T]RUP;NS4 ,ALL WD G WELL
AT ! />T1 ! REFLEC;NS 7 A3EPT$ )A LL NOD
(! H1D1 ! DESCRIP;NS ( SC5]Y Z RUTS ON !
ROAD T M/ 2 GOT OV] AT A WALK+ PACE 7MY
"M DID N C>E = SC5]Y1 & T IS :Y "! IS S
LL ( X 9 MY BOOKS74 ,B N[ ,I AM R1D+ TOO
QKLY1 A LL APPREH5SIVELY1 2C ,I "K T !
NEXT P>AGRAPH 2G9S ) -- LET U SAY )1
,8,AL;G ? PA? CAME A WOMAN0'3 ,I _H
9T5D$ 6RU% ON "H 9 A L\D BULLY+ VOICE1 B
,8,AL;G ? PA? CAME A WOMAN0' ,I R1D1 &
/OP4 ,DID ,I HE> A FA9T S.D F ! O!R 5D
(! B$8 ,P]H ,I DID N2 ,I MAY ONLY H BE5
LI/5+ = X1 B ,I FALT] & LOOK UP4 ,MY
SI/] & ,I LOOK /]NLY AT MY "M4 ,%E BITES
H] "U-LIP & CLUT*ES ! B$ ) BO? H&S1 RE,Y
%E IS DO+ H] BE/ = ME1 B F/ -ES A S"M$
GURGL+ S.D1 !N H] HOLD ON H]F RELAXES &
%E %AKES ) MIR?4
  ,8,T'S A WAY 62HAVE60' CRIES MY SI/]4
  ,8,I _C HELP X10' MY "M GASPS4

,8,& "!'S NO?+ 6LAU< AT40'

  ,8,X'S T WOMAN10' MY "M EXPLA9S
UNNECESS>ILY4
  ,8,MAYBE %E'S N ! WOMAN Y ?9K H]10' ,I
SAY1 CRU%$4
  ,8,MAYBE N10' SAYS MY "M D\BT;LLY4
,8,:AT 0 H] "N80'
  ,8,H] "N10' ,I ANSW] ) TRIUMPH1 ,8WAS
N ,M>G>ET0'2 B ? MAKES H] RIPPLE AG4
,8,I H S _M "NS N[A"DS10' %E MUTT]S4
  ,8,H'%60' SAYS MY "F1 &! R1D+ IS
RESUM$4
  ,P]H ! WOMAN :O CAME AL;G ! PA? 0 (
TALL & MAJE/IC FIGURE1 : %D H %[N MY "M
T ,I _H 3TRIV$ 6/>T MY TRA9 )\T H] ? "T4
,B X DID N4
  ,8,:AT >E Y LAU<+ AT N[80' SAYS MY
SI/] SEV]ELY4 ,8,D Y N HE> T %E 0 A
TALL1 MAJE/IC WOMAN80'
  ,8,X'S ! F/ "T ,I "E HE>D X SD ( H]10'
REPLIES MY "M4

,8,B %E IS40'

,8,KE FY1 HAV]S60'

,8,! BOOK SAYS X40'

  ,8,"! W 2 A _M QUE] ?+S 9 ! BOOK4 ,:AT
0 %E WE>+80'
  ,I H N DESCRIB$ H] CLO!S4 ,8,T'S A
MISTAKE10' SAYS MY "M4 ,8,:5 ,I -E ^U A
WOMAN 9 A BOOK1 ! F/ ?+ ,I WANT 6"K AB
H] IS :E!R %E 0 GD-LOOK+1 &! SECOND1 H[
%E 0 PUT ON40'
  ,! WOMAN ON ! PA? 0 EI<TE5 YE>S ( AGE1
&( REM>KA# B1UTY4
  ,8,T SETTLES Y10' SAYS MY SI/]4
  ,8,I 0 NO B1UTY AT EI<TE510' MY "M
ADMITS1 B "H MY "F 9T]F]ES UNEXPECT$LY4
',!RE WASNA YR L 9 ?
C.TRYSIDE AT EI<TE51' SAYS HE /\TLY4
  ,8,POOH60' SAYS %E1 WELL PL1S$4
  ,8,W]E Y PLA91 !N80' WE ASK4

,8,SAL10' %E REPLIES BRISKLY1 ,8,I 0 F>
  F PLA940'
,8,H'%60'

  ,P]H 9 ! NEXT *APT] ? LADY 7OR ANO!R7
APPE>S 9 A C>RIAGE4
  ,8,I ASSURE Y WE'RE M.T+ 9 ! _W10' ,I
HE> MY "M MURMUR1 B ,I HURRY ON )\T
LOOK+ UP4 ,! LADY LIVES 9 A H\SE ": "!
>E FOOTM5 -- B ! FOOTM5 H -E ON ! SC5E
TOO HURRI$LY4 ,8,? IS M ?AN ,I C /&10'
GASPS MY "M1 & J Z %E IS GETT+ ! BETT]
(A FIT ( LAU<T]1 ,8,FOOTMAN1 GIVE ME A
DR9K ( WAT]10' %E CRIES1 & ? SETS H] (F
AG4 ,(T5 ! R1D+S _H 65D ABRUPTLY 2C H]
MIR? BR"\ ON VIOL5T FITS ( C\<+4
  ,"S"TS ,I R1D 6MY SI/] AL"O1 & %E
ASSUR$ ME T %E CD N SEE MY "M AM;G !
WOM5 ? "T4 ,? %E SD 6HUM\R ME4 ,PRES5TLY
%E WD SLIP UP/AIRS 6ANN\NCE
TRIUMPHANTLY1 ,8,Y >E 9 AG60'
  ,OR 9 ! SMALL H\RS ,I MI<T MAKE A
3FIDANT ( MY "F1 & :5 ,I _H F9I%$ R1D+
HE WD SAY ?"\;LLY1 ,8,T LASSIE IS V
NATURAL4 ,"S (! WAYS Y SAY %E _H -- YR
"M _H !M J ! SAME4 ,DID Y "E NOTICE :AT
AN EXTRAORD9>Y WOMAN YR "M IS80'
  ,!N WD ,I SEEK MY "M = -=T4 ,%E 0 ! M
R1DY 6GIVE X 2C ( H] PROF.D 3VIC;N T IF
,I 0 F.D \ -- T IS1 IF R1D]S 4COV]$ H[
FREQU5TLY & 9 H[ _M GUISES %E APPE>$ 9
MY BOOKS -- ! A6AIR WD 2COME A PUBLIC
SC&AL4
  ,8,Y SEE ,JESS IS N RE,Y Y10' ,I 2G9
9QUIR+LY4
  ,8,OH NO1 %E IS ANO!R K9D ( WOMAN
ALT10' MY "M SAYS1 & !N SPOILS ! -PLI;T
0A4+ NAIVELY1 ,8,%E _H B TWO ROOMS & ,I
H SIX40'
  ,I SI<4 ,8,)\T C.T+ ! PANTRY1 & X'S A
GRT BIG PANTRY10' %E MUTT]S4
  ,? 0 N ! SORT ( DI6];E ,I CD GRTLY
PLUME MYF ^U1 & H"O/Y WD =CE ME 6SAY1
',AS F> Z T GOES1 "! 0 A "T :5 Y _H B
TWO ROOMS YRF -- '
  ,8,T'S L;G S9CE10' %E BR1KS IN4 ,8,I
2GAN ) AN UP-!-/AIR1 B ,I ALW _H X 9 MY
M9D -- ,I N"E M5;N$ X1 B "! X 0 -- 6H !
D[N-!-/AIR Z WELL4 ,AY1 & ,I'VE _H X ?
_M A YE>40'
  ,8,/1 "! IS NO D5Y+ T ,JESS _H ! SAME
AMBI;N40'
  ,8,%E _H1 B 6H] TWO-ROOM$ H\SE %E _H
6/ICK ALL H] BORN "DS4 ,0 T L ME80'

',NO1 B %E WANT$ -- '

  ,8,%E WANT$1 & ,I WANT$1 B ,I GOT & %E
DIDNA4 ,T'S ! DI6];E 2TWIXT H] & ME40'
  ,8,IF T IS ALL ! DI6];E1 X IS LL CR$IT
,I C CLAIM = HAV+ CR1T$ H]40'
  ,MY "M SEES T ,I NE$ SOO?+4 ,8,T IS F>
F 2+ ALL ! DI6];E10' %E WD SAY EAG]LY4
,8,"!'S MY SILK1 = 9/.E4 ,?\< ,I SAY X
MYSEL1 "!'S N A BETT] SILK 9 ! VALLEY (
,/RA?MORE4 ,_H ,JESS A SILK ( ANY K9D --
N 6SP1K (A SILK L T80'
  ,8,WELL1 %E _H NO SILK1 B Y REMEMB] H[
%E GOT T CLOAK ) B1DS40'
  ',AN ELEV5 &A BIT6 ,HOOTS1 :AT 0 T
6BOA/ (6 ,I TELL Y1 E S+LE Y>D ( MY SILK
CO/ -- '
  ,8,"M1 T IS ! V WAY ,JESS SPOKE AB H]
CLOAK60'
  ,%E LETS ? PASS1 P]H )\T HE>+ X1 =
SOLICITUDE AB H] SILK HAS HURRI$ H] 6!
W>DROBE ": X HANGS4
,8,AH1 "M1 ,I AM AFRAID T 0 V L ,JESS60'

  ,8,H[ CD X 2 L H] :5 %E DIDNA EV5 H A
W>DROBE8 ,I TELL Y :AT1 IF "! _H BE5 A
R1L ,JESS & %E _H BOA/$ 6ME AB H] CLOAK
) B1DS1 ,I WD H SD 6H] 9 A C>E.S SORT (
VOICE1 8,/EP ACR ) ME1 ,JESS & ,I'LL LET
Y SEE "S?+ T IS HANG+ 9 MY W>DROBE40 ,T
WD H L[]$ H] PRIDE60'
  ,8,I DON'T 2LIEVE T IS :AT Y WD H D"O1
"M40'
  ,!N A SWEET] EXPRES.N WD -E 96H] FACE4
,8,NO10' %E WD SAY REFLECTIVELY1 ,8X'S
N40'

,8,:AT WD Y H D"O8 ,I ?9K ,I "K40'

  ,8,Y CANNA "K4 ,B ,I'M ?9K+ ,I WD H
CALL$ 6M9D T %E 0 A POOR WOMAN1 & AIL+1
& T]RI# W9DY AB H] CLOAK1 & ,I WD J H SD
X 0 A B1UTY & T ,I WI%$ ,I _H "O L X40'
  ,8,YES1 ,I AM C]TA9 T IS :AT Y WD H
D"O4 ,B OH1 "M1 T IS J H[ ,JESS WD H
ACT$ IF "S POOR] WOMAN ?AN %E _H %[N H]
A NEW %AWL40'
  ,8,MAYBE1 B ?\< ,I _HNA BOA/$ AB MY
SILK ,I WD H WANT$ 6D X40'
  ,8,J Z ,JESS WD H BE5 FIDGET+ 6%[ (F
H] ELEV5 &A BIT60'
  ,X SEEMS ADVISA# 6JUMP 6ANO!R BOOK2 N
6MY F/1 2C -- WELL1 Z X 0 MY F/ "! WD
NATUR,Y 2 "S?+ ( MY "M 9 X1 & N 6!
SECOND1 Z X 0 MY F/ NOVEL & N M* E/EEM$
EV5 9 \R FAMILY4 7,B ! LL T\*ES ( MY "M
9 X >E N S BAD47 ,LET U TRY ! /ORY AB !
M9I/]4
  ,MY "M'S F/ REM>K IS DECID$LY DAMP+4
,8,_M A "T 9 MY "Y "DS10' %E SAYS1 ,8,I
PLAY$ AB ! ,AULD ,LI*T MANSE1 B ,I LL
?"\ ,I %D LIVE 6BE ! MI/RESS ( X60'

,8,B ,M>G>ET IS N Y40'

  ,8;,N-NO1 OH NO4 ,%E _H A V DI6]5T
LIFE F M9E4 ,I N"E LET ON 6A S\L T %E IS
ME60'
  ,8,%E 0 N M1NT 6BE Y :5 ,I 2GAN4 ,"M1
:AT A WAY Y H ( -+ CREEP+ IN60'

,8,Y %D KEEP BETT] WAT* ON YRF40'
',P]HAPS IF ,I _H CALL$ ,M>G>ET 0"S O!R
  "N -- '

  ,8,I %D H SE5 "? H] J ! SAME4 ,Z SOON
Z ,I HE>D %E 0 ! "M ,I 2GAN 6LAU<4 ,9 "S
WAYS1 ?\<1 %E'S NO0' S V L ME4 ,%E 0 L;G
9 F9D+ \ AB ,BA2IE4 ,I'SE UPHAUD ,I %D H
BE5 QK]4'

,8,BA2IE1 Y SEE1 KEPT CLOSE 6! G>D5-
  WALL40'

  ,8,X'S N ! WALL UP AT ! MANSE T WD H
HI45 H] F ME40'

,8,%E CAME \ 9 ! D>K40'

  ,8,I'M ?9K+ %E WD H F.D ME LOOK+ = H]
)A C&LE40'

,8,& ,GAV9 0 SECRETIVE40'

,8,T WD H PUT ME ON MY METTLE40'

,8,%E N"E SUSPECT$ ANY?+40'
,8,I WOND] AT H]40'

  ,B MY NEW H]O9E IS 6BE A *4 ,:AT HAS
MADAM 6SAY 6T8
  ,A *6 ,YES1 %E HAS "S?+ 6SAY EV5 6T4
,8,? B1TS ALL60' >E ! ^WS4
  ',COME1 -E1 "M1 ,I SEE :AT Y >E ?9K+1
B ,I ASSURE Y T ? "T -- '
  ,8,( C\RSE N10' %E SAYS SOO?+LY1 ,8OH
NO1 %E CANNA 2 ME0'2 B ANON H] R1L ?"\S
>E REV1L$ 0! >T.S REM>K1 ,8,I D\BT1 ?\<1
? IS A T\< JOB Y H ON H& -- X IS S L;G
S9CE ,I 0 A BAIRN40'
  ,WE CAME V CLOSE 6EA* O!R 9 ^? TALKS4
,8,X IS A QUE] ?+10' %E WD SAY S(TLY1
,8T NE> "EY?+ Y WRITE IS AB ? BIT PLACE4
,Y LL EXPECT$ T :5 Y 2GAN4 ,I M9D WELL !
"T :5 X N"E 5T]$ YR H1D1 ANY M ?AN M9E1
T Y CD WRITE A PAGE AB \R SQU>ES &
WYNDS4 ,I WOND] H[ X HAS -E AB80'
  ,"! 0 A "T :5 ,I CD N H ANSW]$ T "Q1 B
T "T _H L;G PASS$4 ,8,I SUPPOSE1 "M1 X 0
2C Y 7 MO/ AT HOME 9 YR [N T[N1 & "! 0
N"E M* PL1SURE 6ME 9 WRIT+ ( P :O CD N H
"KN Y1 NOR ( SQU>ES & WYNDS Y N"E PASS$
"?1 NOR (A C.TRY-SIDE ": Y N"E C>RI$ YR
"F'S D9N] 9 A FLAGON4 ,"! IS SC>CE A
H\SE 9 ALL MY BOOKS ": ,I H N SEEM$ 6SEE
Y A ?\S& "TS1 B5D+ OV] ! FIREPLACE OR
W9D+ UP ! CLOCK40'
  ,8,& YET Y US$ 6BE 9 S* A QU&>Y 2C Y
KNEW NOBODY Y CD MAKE YR WOM5-FOLK \ (6
,D Y M9D T1 & H[ WE BO? LAU<$ AT ! NO;N
( YR HAV+ 6MAKE !M \ ( ME80'

,8,I REMEMB]40'

  ,8,& N[ Y'VE G"O BACK 6MY "F'S "T4
,X'S M ?AN SIXTY YE>S S9CE ,I C>RI$ 8
D9N] 9 A FLAGON "? ! L;G P>KS (
,K9NORDY40'
  ,8,I (T5 G 96! L;G P>KS1 "M1 & SIT ON
! /ILE AT ! $GE (! WOOD TILL ,I FANCY ,I
SEE A LL GIRL -+ T[>D ME )A FLAGON 9 H]
H&40'
  ,8,JUMP+ ! BURN 7,I 0 ONCE S PR\D ( MY
JUMPS67 & SW++ ! FLAGON R.D S QK T :AT 0
9SIDE _HNA "T 6FALL \4 ,I US$ 6WE> A
MAG5TA FROCK &A :ITE P9A=E4 ,DID ,I "E
TELL Y T80'
  ,8,"M1 ! LL GIRL 9 MY /ORY WE>S A
MAG5TA FROCK &A :ITE P9A=E40'
  ,8,Y M9D$ T6 ,B ,I'M ?9K+ X WASNA A
LASSIE 9 A P9A=E Y SAW 9 ! L;G P>KS (
,K9NORDY1 X 0 J A GEY D"O AULD WOMAN40'
  ,8,X 0 A LASSIE 9 A P9A=E1 "M1 :5 %E 0
F> AWAY1 B :5 %E CAME NE> X 0 A GEY D"O
AULD WOMAN40'

,8,&A FELL UGLY "O60'

,8,! MO/ B1UTI;L "O ,I % "E SEE40'

  ,8,I WOND] 6HE> Y SAY X4 ,LOOK AT MY
WR9KL$ AULD FACE40'

,8,X IS ! SWEETE/ FACE 9 ALL ! _W40'

,8,SEE H[ ! R+S DROP (F MY POOR WA/$
  F+]40'

  ,8,"! W ALW 2 "S"O NI<1 "M1 6PUT !M ON
AG40'
  ,8,AY1 W "!6 ,WELL ,I "K X4 ,D Y M9D
H[ :5 Y 7 B A BAIRN Y US$ 6SAY1 8,WAIT
TILL ,I'M A MAN1 & Y'LL N"E H A R1SON =
GREET+ AG800'
  ,I REMEMB]$4
  ,8,Y US$ 6-E RUNN+ 96! H\SE 6SAY1
8,"!'S A PR\D DAME GO+ D[N !
,M>YWELLBRAE 9 A CLOAK T IS BLACK ON "O
SIDE & :ITE ON ! O!R2 WAIT TILL ,I'M A
MAN1 & Y'LL H "O ! V SAME40 ,& :5 ,I LAY
ON GEY H>D B$S Y SD1 8,:5 ,I'M A MAN
Y'LL LIE ON F1!RS40 ,Y SAW NO?+ BONNY1 Y
N"E HE>D ( MY SETT+ MY HE>T ON ANY?+1 B
:AT Y FLUNG UP YR H1D & CRI$1 8,WAIT
TILL ,I'M A MAN40 ,Y FAIR %AM$ ME 2F !
NEI<B\RS1 & YET ,I 0 W9DY1 TOO4 ,& N[ X
HAS ALL -E TRUE L A DR1M4 ,I C CALL 6M9D
N "O LL ?+ ,I ETTL$ = 9 MY LU/Y "DS T
HASNA BE5 PUT 96MY H&S 9 MY AULD AGE2 ,I
SIT "H USE.S1 SURR.D$ 0! GRATIFIC,N (
ALL MY WI%ES & ALL MY AMBI;NS1 & AT "TS
,I'M NE> T]RIFI$1 = X'S Z IF ,GOD _H
MISTA'5 ME = "S O!R WOMAN40'
  ,8,YR HOPES & AMBI;NS 7 S SIMPLE10' ,I
WD SAY1 B %E DID N L T4 ,8,!Y W]5A T
SIMPLE10' %E WD ANSW]1 FLU%+4
  ,I AM RELUCTANT 6L1VE ^? HAPPY "DS1 B
! 5D M/ 2 FAC$1 & Z ,I WRITE ,I SEEM
6SEE MY "M GR[+ SMALL] & H] FACE M
WI/;L1 & / %E L+]S ) U1 Z IF ,GOD _H SD1
,8,* ( M9E1 YR "T HAS -E1 2 N AFRAID40'
,& %E 0 N AFRAID1 B / %E L+]$1 & ,HE
WAIT$1 SMIL+4 ,I N"E R1D ANY ( T LA/
BOOK 6H]2 :5 X 0 F9I%$ %E 0 TOO H1VY )
YE>S 6FOLL[ A /ORY4 ,6ME ? 0 Z IF MY
BOOK M/ G \ COLD 96! _W 7L ALL T MAY -E
AF X F ME71 & MY SI/]1 :O TOOK M ?"\ =
O!RS & LESS = H]F ?AN ANY O!R HUMAN 2+
,I H "KN1 SAW ?1 & 0"S M1NS UNFA?OMA# 6A
MAN COAX$ MY "M 962+ ONCE AG ! WOMAN %E
_H BE54 ,ON A "D B ?REE WEEKS 2F %E DI$
MY "F & ,I 7 CALL$ S(TLY UP/AIRS4 ,MY "M
0 SITT+ BOLT UP"R1 Z %E LOV$ 6SIT1 9 H]
OLD *AIR 0! W9D[1 )A MANUSCRIPT 9 H]
H&S4 ,B %E 0 LOOK+ AB H] )\T M* "U/&+4
,8,J 6PL1SE HM10' MY SI/] :ISP]$1 & !N 9
A L[1 TREMBL+ VOICE MY "M 2GAN 6R1D4 ,I
LOOK$ AT MY SI/]4 ,TE>S ( WOE 7 /1L+ D[N
H] FACE4 ,SOON ! R1D+ 2CAME V SL[ &
/OPP$4 ,AF A PAUSE1 ,8,"! 0 "S?+ Y 7
6SAY 6HM10' MY SI/] REM9D$ H]4
,8,LUCK10' MUTT]$ A VOICE Z F ! D1D1
,8LUCK40' ,& !N ! OLD SMILE CAME RUNN+
6H] FACE L A LAMP-LI<T]1 & %E SD 6ME1
,8,I AM [] F> G"O 6R1D1 B ,I'M ?9K+ ,I
AM 9 X AG60' ,MY "F PUT H] ,TE/A;T 9 H]
H&S1 & X FELL OP5 -- Z X ALW DOES -- AT
! ,F\RTE5? ( ,JOHN4 ,%E MADE AN EF=T
6R1D B CD N4 ,SU45LY %E /OOP$ & KISS$ !
BROAD PAGE4 ,8,W T D 9/1D80' %E ASK$4