Чужак в чужой стране

           Thefoodwasexcellentand,sofarasJillcouldtell,noneofitwassyntho.

           ButitdidnotseemtosuitHarshaw.Hecomplainedthathisknifewasdull,orthemeatwastough,orboth;heaccusedMiriamofservingleftovers.NooneseemedtohearhimbutJillwasbecomingembarrassedonMiriam’saccountwhenAnneputdownherknifeandfork."Hementionedhismother’scooking,"shestatedbleakly.

           "Heisbeginningtothinkheisbossagain,"agreedDorcas.

           "Howlonghasitbeen?"

           "Abouttendays."

           "Toolong."AnnegatheredupDorcasandMiriamwithhereyes;theyallstoodup.Dukewentoneating.

           Harshawsaidhastily,"Nowseehere,girls,notatmeals.Waituntil-"Theypaidnoattentiontohisprotestbutmovedtowardhim;aservingmachinescurriedoutoftheway.Annetookhisfeet,eachoftheothertwoanarm;Frenchdoorsslidoutofthewayandtheycarriedhimout,squawking.

           Afewsecondslaterthesquawkswerecutshortbyasplash.

           Thethreewomenreturnedatonce,notnoticeablymussed.MiriamsatdownandturnedtoJill."Moresalad,Jill?"

           Harshawreturnedafewminuteslater,dressedinpajamasandrobeinsteadoftheeveningjackethehadbeenwearing.Oneofthemachineshadcoveredhisplateassoonashewasdraggedawayfromthetable;itnowuncovereditforhimandhewentoneating."AsIwassaying,"heremarked,"awomanwhocan’tcookisawasteofskin.IfIdon’tstarthavingsomeservicearoundhereI’mgoingtoswapallofyouforadogandshootthedog.