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           ButIplayedthemoverandoveragainathome,untilIspokeenoughEnglishtolearnmore."

           Hershoeswereoff,asusual;awed,hehadwatchedherwalkbarefootedonpavementshotenoughtofryanegg,andoverstonyplaces.

           "Urchin!Putyourshoeson."

           "I’manAussie;ourfeetaretoobroadtobecomfortableinshoes.Comesofnoreallycoldweather;wegobarefootwheneverwecan.Icanwalkacrossapaddockofbindy-eyeburnsandpickthemoutofmyfeetwithoutfeelingthem,"shesaidproudly."Icouldprobablywalkonhotcoals."Thenabruptlyshechangedthesubject."Didyouloveyourwife,Rain?"

           "No."

           "Didsheloveyou?"

           "Yes.Shehadnootherreasontomarryme."

           "Poorthing!Youusedher,andyoudroppedher."

           "Doesitdisappointyou?"

           "No,Idon’tthinkso.Iratheradmireyouforit,actually.ButIdofeelverysorryforher,anditmakesmemoredeterminedthanevernottolandinthesamesoupshedid."

           "Admireme?"Histonewasblank,astonished.

           "Whynot?I’mnotlookingforthethingsinyousheundoubtedlydid,nowamI?Ilikeyou,you’remyfriend.Shelovedyou,youwereherhusband."

           "Ithink,Herzchen,"hesaidalittlesadly,"thatambitiousmenarenotverykindtotheirwomen."

           "That’sbecausetheyusuallyfallforutterdoormatsofwomen,the‘Yes,dear,no,dear,threebagsfull,dear,andwherewouldyoulikeitput?’sort.Hardcheeseallround,Isay.