Чужак в чужой стране

           Dastardjustlaughedandsaidhowelse?–pointedoutthatIhadinvitedhimtolivehere,permanently,longago."Jubalsniffed."Wouldn’tbesobadifhewouldjustdoit.Imightevengetsomeworkoutofher.Maybe."

           "Youprobablywould.Shelikestowork.Andtheothertwoarepregnant?"

           "Higher‘nakite.I’mrefreshingmyselfinO.B.becausetheybothsaythey’regoingtohave’emathome.Andwhatacrimpthat’sgoingtoputintomyworkinghabits!Worsethankittens.Butwhydoyouassumethatneitherofthetwoturgescenttummiesbelongstothebride?"

           "Oh-Why,IsupposeIassumedthatStinkywasmoreconventionalthanthat?ormaybemorecautious."

           "Stinkywouldn’tbegivenaballot.Ben,intheeightyorninetyyearsIhavegiventothissubject,tryingtotraceoutthemeanderingsoftheirtwistylittleminds,theonlythingthatIhavelearnedforcertainaboutwomenisthatwhenagalisgonna,she’sgonna.Allamancandoiscooperatewiththeinevitable."

           Benthoughtruefullyabouttimeswhenhehadresortedtofastfootwork–andothertimeswhenhehadn’tbeenfastenough."Yeah,you’reright.Well,whichoneisn’tgettingmarriedoranything?Miriam?OrAnne?"

           "Holdit,Ididn’tsaythebridewaspregnant?andanyhow,youseemtobeassumingthatDorcasistheprospectivebride.Youhaven’tkeptyoureyesopen.It’sMiriamwhoisstudyingArabiclikemad,soshecandoitright."

           "Huh?Well,I’llbeacross-eyedbaboon!"

           "Youobviouslyare."