Зима тревоги нашей

           Thisisoldnewsbutgood!’"

           "You’llneverguess—she’sgoingtokeepthechildrensowecanhaveourtrip."

           "Isthisatrick?"

           "Ididn’task.Sheoffered."

           "They’lleatheralive."

           "They’recrazyabouther.She’sgoingtotakethemtoNewYorkonthetrainSunday,stayallnightinafriend’sapartment,andMondayseethenewfifty-starflag-raisinginRockefellerCenterandtheparadeand—everything."

           "Ican’tbelieveit."

           "Isn’tthatthenicestthing?"

           "Theverynicest.AndwewillfleetotheMontaukmoors,MissMousie?"

           "I’vealreadycalledandreservedaroom."

           "It’sdelirium.Ishallburst.Ifeelmyselfswellingup."

           Ihadthoughttotellheraboutthestore,buttoomuchnewsisconstipating.Bettertowaitandtellheronthemoor.

           Ellencameslitheringintothekitchen."Daddy,thatpinkthing’sgonefromthecabinet."

           "Ihaveit.Ihaveithereinmypocket.Here,youmayputitback."

           "Youtoldusnevertotakeitaway."

           "Istilltellyouthat,onpainofdeath."

           Shesnatcheditalmostgreedilyandcarrieditinbothhandstothelivingroom.

           Mary’seyeswereonmestrangely,somberly."Whydidyoutakeit,Ethan?"

           "Forluck,mylove.Anditworked."