Чужак в чужой стране

           ’"

           "Sir?"

           "Oh,I’mnotoffended.Butwhentheybeganhandingoutdoctoratesforcomparativefolkdancingandadvancedfly-fishing,Ibecametoostinkin’proudtousethetitle.Iwon’ttouchwateredwhiskeyandItakenoprideinwatered-downdegrees.CallmeJubal."

           "Oh.Butthedegreeinmedicinehasn’tbeenwatereddown,asyoucallit."

           "No.Butitistimetheycalleditsomethingelse,soasnottohaveitmixedupwithplaygroundsupervisors.Nevermind.Littlegirl,justwhatisyourinterestinthispatient?"

           "Eh?Itoldyou.Doct–Jubal."

           "Youtoldmewhathappened;youdidn’ttellmewhy.Jill,Isawthewayyoulookedathimandspoketohim.Doyouthinkyouareinlovewithhim?"

           Jillwasstartled.SheglancedatDorcas;theothergirlappearednottobehearingtheconversation."Why,that’spreposterous!"

           "Idon’tseeanythingpreposterousaboutit.You’reagirl;he’saboy–that’susuallyanicesetup."

           "But-No,Jubal,it’snotthatatall.I?well,IthoughthewasbeingheldaprisonerandIthought–orBenthought–thathemightbeindanger.Iwantedtoseehimgethisrights."

           "Mmmm?mydear,I’malwayssuspiciousofadisinterestedinterest.Youlookasifyouhadanormalglandularbalance,soitismyguessthatitiseitherBen,orthispoorboyfromMars,orboth.Youhadbettertakeyourmotivesoutinprivateandhavealookatthem.Thenyouwillbebetterabletojudgewhichwayyouaregoing.