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           "Pattywillshowhertoyou.I’mboredwithher–shewasaperfectlittlebeastallthewaydown.Pattydear!JubalwantstoseeAbby."

           Thetattooedwomancheckedoneofherunhurrieddashesthroughtheroom–sofarasJubalcouldsee,shewastheonlyoneoftheseveralpresentwhowasdoinganywork,andsheseemedtobeeverywhereatonce."Certainly,Jubal.I’mnotbusy.Downthisway.

           "I’vegotthekidsinmyroom,"sheexplained,whileJubalstrovetokeepupwithher,"sothatHoneyBuncanwatchthem."

           Jubalwasmildlystartledtosee,amomentlater,whatPatriciameantbythat.Theboawasarrangedononeoftwindoublebedsinsquared-offloopsthatformedanest–atwinnest,asonebightofthesnakehadbeenpulledacrosstobisectthesquare,makingtwocrib-sizedpockets,eachpaddedwithababyblanketandeachcontainingababy.

           Theophidiannursemaidraisedherheadinquiringlyastheycamein.Pattystrokeditandsaid,"It’sallright,dear.FatherJubalwantstoseethem.Petheralittle,andlethergrokyou,sothatshewillknowyounexttime."

           FirstJubalcoochey-cooedathisfavoritegirlfriendwhenshegurgledathimandkicked,thenpettedthesnake.HedecidedthatitwasthehandsomestspecimenofBojdaehehadeverseen,aswellasthebiggest–longer,heestimated,thananyotherboaconstrictorincaptivity.Itscrossbarsweresharplymarkedandthebrightercolorsofthetailquiteshowy.