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           "Duringthewar,Ethan—listentothis,ladies,andseeifyoucanrememberanythinglikeit—duringthewarIservedasaconsultanttotheSecretaryofWar.IspentsometimeinWashington."

           "Ihatedit,"saidMrs.Baker.

           "Well,therewasabigmilitarytea,arealdoozer,maybefivehundredguests.Therankingladywasthewifeofafive-stargeneralandnextinimportancewastheladyofalieutenantgeneral.Mrs.Secretary,thehostess,askedthefive-starladytopourtheteaandMrs.Three-Starstopourcoffee.Well,thetopladyrefusedbecause,andIquoteher,‘Everyoneknowscoffeeoutrankstea.’Now,didyoueverhearthat?"Hechuckled."Asitturnedout,whiskyoutrankedeverybody."

           "Itwassucharestlessplace,"Mrs.Bakersaid."Peoplemovedbeforetheyhadtimetogatherasetofhabits,ormanners."

           MarytoldherstoryofanIrishteainBostonwiththewaterboilinginroundtubsoveranopenfireandservedwithtinladles."Andtheydon’tsteep.Theyboil,"shesaid."Thatteawillunsettlevarnishonatable."

           Theremustberitualpreliminariestoaseriousdiscussionoraction,andthesharperthematteris,thelongerandlightermustthesingingbe.Eachpersonmustaddabitoffeatheroracoloredpatch.IfMaryandMrs.Bakerwerenottobeapartoftheseriousmatter,theywouldlongsincehavesetuptheirownpatternofexchange.Mr.BakerhadpouredwineontheearthofconversationandsohadmyMary,andshewaspleasedandexcitedbytheirattentiveness.ItremainedforMrs.