Ход королевы

           Wheatleytookherdowntowntoshopforclothes.Whenthebusstoppedattheircorner,Bethsteppedintoitwithouthesitation,eventhoughitwasthefirsttimeshe’deverbeenonabus.ItwasawarmfallSaturday,andBethwasuncomfortableinherMethuenwoolskirtandcouldhardlywaittogetanewone.Shebegantocounttheblockstodowntown.

           Theygotoffattheseventeenthcorner.Mrs.Wheatleytookherhand,althoughitwashardlynecessary,andusheredheracrossafewyardsofbusysidewalksintotherevolvingdoorsofBenSnyder’sDepartmentStore.Itwasteninthemorningandtheaisleswerefullofwomencarryingbigdarkpursesandshoppingbags.Mrs.Wheatleywalkedthroughthecrowdwiththesurenessofanexpert.Bethfollowed.

           Beforetheylookedatanythingtowear,Mrs.Wheatleytookherdownthebroadstairstothebasement,whereshespenttwentyminutesatacounterwithwhatacardsaidwere“DinnerNapkinIrregulars,”puttingtogethersixblueonesfromthemulticoloredpile,rejectingdozensintheprocess.ShewaitedwhileMrs.Wheatleyassembledhersetinakindofmesmerizedtrialanderrorandthendecidedshedidn’treallyneednapkins.Theywenttoanothercounterwith“BookBargains”onit.Mrs.Wheatleyreadoutthetitlesofagreatmanythirty-nine-centbooks,pickedupseveralandleafedthroughthembutdidn’tbuyany.

           Finallytheytooktheescalatorbacktothemainfloor.TheretheystoppedataperfumecountersoMrs.WheatleycouldsprayonewristwithEveninginParisandtheotherwithEmeraude.“Allright,dear,”Mrs.