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           "Champagnebeforedinner?"heasked,lookingatherinsurprise.

           "Well,Ithinktheoccasioncallsforit,don’tyou?Itwasourfirst-everbreakingofrelations,andthisisourfirst-everreconciliation,"sheansweredplausibly,indicatingacomfortablechairforhimandsettlingherselfonthetawnykangaroo-furrug,lipspartedasifshehadalreadyrehearsedrepliestoanythinghemightsaynext.

           Butconversationwasbeyondhim,atleastuntilhewasbetterabletoassesshermood,sohewatchedherinsilence.Untilhehadkissedherithadbeeneasytokeephimselfpartiallyaloof,butnow,seeingheragainforthefirsttimesince,headmittedthatitwasgoingtobeagreatdealharderinthefuture.

           Probablyevenwhenshewasaveryoldwomanshewouldstillretainsomethingnotquitefullymatureaboutfaceandbearing;asthoughessentialwomanlinesswouldalwayspassherby.Thatcool,self-centered,logicalbrainseemedtodominatehercompletely,yetforhimsheownedafascinationsopotenthedoubtedifhewouldeverbeabletoreplaceherwithanyotherwoman.Neveroncehadhequestionedwhethershewasworththelongstruggle.Possiblyfromaphilosophicalstandpointshewasn’t.Diditmatter?Shewasagoal,anaspiration.

           "You’relookingverynicetonight,Herzchen,"hesaidatlast,tippinghischampagneglasstoherinagesturehalftoast,halfacknowledgmentofanadversary.

           AcoalfiresimmeredunshieldedinthesmallVictoriangrate,butJustinedidn’tseemtomindtheheat,huddledclosetoitwithhereyesfixedonhim.