Chapter 6

           NextmorningDickcameearlyintoNicole’sroom."IwaitedtillIheardyouup.NeedlesstosayIfeelbadlyabouttheevening—buthowaboutnopostmortems?"

           "I’magreed,"sheansweredcoolly,carryingherfacetothemirror.

           "Tommydroveushome?OrdidIdreamit?"

           "Youknowhedid."

           "Seemsprobable,"headmitted,"sinceIjustheardhimcoughing.IthinkI’llcallonhim."

           Shewasgladwhenhelefther,foralmostthefirsttimeinherlife—hisawfulfacultyofbeingrightseemedtohavedesertedhimatlast.

           Tommywasstirringinhisbed,wakingforcaféaulait.

           "Feelallright?"Dickasked.

           WhenTommycomplainedofasorethroatheseizedataprofessionalattitude.

           "Betterhaveagargleorsomething."

           "Youhaveone?"

           "OddlyenoughIhaven’t—probablyNicolehas."

           "Don’tdisturbher."

           "She’sup."

           "Howisshe?"

           Dickturnedaroundslowly."DidyouexpecthertobedeadbecauseIwastight?"Histonewaspleasant."Nicoleisnowmadeof—ofGeorgiapine,whichisthehardestwoodknown,exceptlignumvitæfromNewZealand—"

           Nicole,goingdownstairs,heardtheendoftheconversation.Sheknew,asshehadalwaysknown,thatTommylovedher;sheknewhehadcometodislikeDick,andthatDickhadrealizeditbeforehedid,andwouldreactinsomepositivewaytotheman’slonelypassion.Thisthoughtwassucceededbyamomentofsheerlyfemininesatisfaction.