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           Thusafteraperiodofadjustmentshebecametheirsoundingboard,theirneutralconfidante,theirportinallstorms;shebailedBillieoutofjail,tookBobbietotheMaterhospitaltohaveherstomachpumpedoutafteraparticularlybadquarrelwithBillie,refusedtotakesideswitheitherofthemwhenPat,Al,GeorgieandRonniehoveinturnsonthehorizon.Itdidseemaveryinsecurekindofemotionallife,shethought.Menwerebadenough,butatleasttheyhadthespiceofintrinsicdifference.

           SobetweentheCullodenandBothwellGardensandgirlsshehadknownfromKincoppaldays,Justinehadquitealotoffriends,andwasagoodfriendherself.Shenevertoldthemallhertroublesastheydidher;shehadDaneforthat,thoughwhatfewtroublessheadmittedtohavingdidn’tappeartopreyuponher.Thethingwhichfascinatedherfriendsthemostaboutherwasherextraordinaryself-discipline;asifshehadtrainedherselffrominfancynottoletcircumstancesaffectherwell-being.

           Ofchiefinteresttoeveryonecalledafriendwashow,whenandwithwhomJustinewouldfinallydecidetobecomeafulfilledwoman,butshetookhertime.

           ArthurLestrangewasAlbertJones’smostdurablejuvenilelead,thoughhehadwistfullywavedgoodbyetohisfortiethbirthdaytheyearbeforeJustinearrivedattheCulloden.Hehadagoodbody,wasasteady,reliableactorandhisclean-cut,manlyfacewithitssurroundofyellowcurlswasalwayssuretoevokeaudienceapplause.