Чужак в чужой стране

           "Nonsense!Isimplywasn’tcertainwhatwaspolite."

           "Nonsensetoyou,sir–YOUalreadyknewwhatwaspolite?butwereafraidyoumightlooksilly?orpossiblyfearedbeingtrappedinadvertentlyinthegallantreflex.ButIseemtogrokthatMikehadareasonforinstitutingthishouseholdcustom–Mikealwayshasreasonsforeverythinghedoes,althoughsomeofthemseemstrangetome."

           "Oh,yes.Hehasreasons.Jilltoldmeaboutthem."

           BenCaxtonwasstandinginthefoyer,hisbacktothelivingroomandhishandsonhisshorts,havingtoldhimself,notveryfirmly,totaketheplungeandgetitoverwith–whentwoarmscamesnuglyaroundhiswaistfrombehind."Bendarling!Howwonderfultohaveyouhere!"

           HeturnedandhadJillinhisarmsandhermouthwarmandgreedyagainsthis–andwasverygladthathehadnotquitefinishedstripping.Forshewasnolonger"MotherEve";shewaswearingoneofthelong,all-envelopingpriestessrobes.Neverthelesshewashappilyawarethathehadadoublearmfuloflive,warm,andgentlysquirminggirl;herpriestlyvestmentwasnogreaterimpedimentthanwouldhavebeenathingown,andbothkinestheticandtactilesensestoldhimthattherestwasJill.

           "Golly!"shesaid,breakingfromthekiss."I’vemissedyou,youoldbeast.ThouartGod."

           "ThouartGod,"heconceded."Jill,you’reprettierthanever."

           "Yes,"sheagreed."Itdoesthatforyou.ButIcan’ttellyouwhatathrillitgavemetocatchyoureyeattheblow-off."