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           "Hegotupandsatbyher,putabiteinhermouth."Myowncooking,withRuth’shelp."

           "Iknow.Andgood,too.DuketoldmetostayoutofthekitchenbecauseRuthiewasgivingyouagood-for-your-soullecture.Youdidn’twakeme;Iwasjustlazinguntilyoucameout.Ihaven’tbeenasleepallnight."

           "Notatall?"

           "Notawink.ButI’mnottired,Ifeelgrand.Justhungry.That’sahint."Sohefedher.Shelethimdoso,neverstirring,notusingherownhands."Butdidyougetanysleep?"sheaskedpresently.

           "Uh,some."

           "Enough?No,yougotenough.ButhowmuchsleepdidDawnget?Asmuchastwohours?"

           "Oh,morethanthat,I’mcertain."

           "Thenshe’sallright.Twohoursofsleepdoesusasmuchgoodaseightusedto.Iknewwhatasweetnightyouweregoingtohave–bothofyou–butIwasateenybitworriedthatshemightnotrest."

           "Well,itwasawonderfulnight,"Benadmitted,"althoughIwas,uh,surprisedatthewayyoushovedheratme."

           "Shocked,youmean.Iknowyou,Ben,maybebetterthanyouknowyourself.Youarrivedhereyesterdaywithjealousystickingoutinlumps.Ithinkit’sgonenow.Yes?"

           Helookedbackather."Ithinkso."

           "That’sgood.Ihadawonderfulandjoyousnight,too–madefreefromanyworrybyknowingyouwereingoodhands.Thebesthands–betterthanmine."

           "Oh,no!"

           "Hmm.Igrokafewlumpsstill–buttonightwe’llwashthemawayinwater.