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           Howishetakingit?"

           "Withdignity.Withhonor."

           Wewalkedonthebeachaswehadthoughtwemight,satinthesand,pickedupsmallbrightshellsandshowedthemtoeachother,aswemustdo,spokewithconventionalwonderaboutnaturalthings,thesea,theair,thelight,thewind-cooledsun,asthoughtheCreatorwerelisteninginforcompliments.

           Mary’sattentionwassplit.Ithinkshewantedtobebackhomeinhernewstatus,toseethedifferentlookintheeyesofwomen,thechangedtoneofgreetingsintheHighStreet.Ithinkshewasnomore"poorMaryHawley,sheworkssohard."ShehadbecomeMrs.EthanAllenHawleyandwouldeverbe.AndIhadtokeepherthat.Shewentthroughthedaybecauseitwasplannedandpaidfor,buttherealshellssheturnedoverandinspectedweretheshiningdaystocome.

           Wehadourlunchintheblue-checkeddiningroom,whereMary’smanner,hercertaintyofpositionandplace,disappointedMr.Mole.Histendernosewasoutofjointthathadsojoyouslyquiveredatthescentofsin.HisdisillusionwascompletewhenhehadtocometoourtableandreportatelephonecallforMrs.Hawley.

           "Whoknowswe’rehere?"

           "Why,Margie,ofcourse.Ihadtotellherbecauseofthechildren.Oh!Idohope—Hedoesn’tlookwherehe’sgoing,youknow."

           Shecamebacktremblinglikeastar."You’llneverguess.Youcouldn’t."

           "Icanguessit’sgood."

           "Shesaid,‘Haveyouheardthenews?Haveyouheardtheradio?’Icouldtellbyhervoiceitwasn’tbadnews."