Чужак в чужой стране

           ButyoungBeckyVeseyhadbeensoinsignificantthattheprecinctcommitteemancouldneverrememberhernameeventhoughhenoticedherbustmeasurement.BeckyVeseyhadnotresentedit;Beckylikedpeople.ShelikedAgnesDouglasnow.

           BeckyVeseylikedeverybody.

           Shesatawhilelonger,enjoyingthewarmglowandtherespitefrompressureandjustanipmoreofthetonic,whilehershrewdandablebrainshuffledthebitsandpiecesshehadpickedup.Presently,withoutconsciouslymakingadecision,shecalledherstockbrokerandinstructedhimtosellLunarEnterprisesshort.

           Hesnorted."Allie,you’recrazy.Thatreducingdietisweakeningyourmind."

           "Youlistentome,Ed.Whenitisdowntenpoints,coverme,evenifitisstillslipping.Waitforittoturn.Whenitralliesthreepoints,buyintoitagain?thensellwhenitgetsbacktotoday’sclosing."

           Therewasalongsilencewhilehelookedather."Allie,youknowsomething.TellUncleEd."

           "Thestarstellme,Ed."

           Edmadeasuggestionastronomicallyimpossibleandadded,"Allright,ifyouwon’t,youwon’t.Mmm?Ineverdidhavesenseenoughtostayoutofacrookedgame,MindifIridealongwithyouonit,Allie?"

           "Notatall,Ed,aslongasyoudon’tgoheavyenoughtoletitshow.Thisisadelicatespecialsituation,withSaturnjustbalancedbetweenVirgoandLeo."

           "Asyousay,Allie."

           Mrs.Douglasgotbusyatonce,happythatAlliehadconfirmedallherjudgments