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           He(shealwaysthoughtofitashe)wasapartofherasJustineneverhadbeen;shesufferednosicknessordepression,andlookedforwardeagerlytobearinghim.PerhapsJustinewasinadvertentlyresponsibleforsomeofthis;nowthatthelittlepale-eyedthingwaschangingfromamindlessbabytoanextremelyintelligentgirlchild,Meggiefoundherselffascinatedwiththeprocessandthechild.ItwasalongtimesinceshehadbeenindifferenttoJustine,andsheyearnedtolavishloveuponherdaughter,hugher,kissher,laughwithher.Tobepolitelyrebuffedwasashock,butthatwaswhatJustinedidateveryaffectionateoverture.

           WhenJimsandPatsyleftRiverview,Mrs.Smithhadthoughttogetthembackunderherwingagain,thencamethedisappointmentofdiscoveringtheywereawayinthepaddocksmostofthetime.SoMrs.SmithturnedtolittleJustine,andfoundherselfasfirmlyshutoutasMeggiewas.ItseemedthatJustinedidn’twanttobehugged,kissedormadetolaugh.

           Shewalkedandtalkedearly,atninemonths.Onceuponherfeetandincommandofaveryarticulatetongue,sheproceededtogoherownwayanddopreciselywhatevershewanted.Notthatshewaseithernoisyordefiant;simplythatshewasmadeofveryhardmetalindeed.Meggieknewnothingaboutgenes,butifshehadshemighthaveponderedupontheresultofaninterminglingofCleary,ArmstrongandO’Neill.Itcouldn’tfailtobepowerfulhumansoup.

           ButthemostdismayingthingwasJustine’sdoggedrefusaltosmileorlaugh.