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           Sheglaredathim."Ofcourseitwasarat.You’llhavescareditnow,poorthing."Shelookedaroundtheroom,thenmadealowwhistlingnoisebetweenherfrontteeth."Hello?"shecalled.Shekneltonthefloor,MansfieldParkabandoned."Hello?"

           SheflashedaglancebackatRichard."Ifyou’vehurtit..."shethreatened;then,softly,totheroom,"I’msorry,he’sanidiot.Hello?"

           "I’mnotanidiot,"saidRichard.

           "Shh,"shesaid."Hello?"Apinknoseandtwosmallblackeyespeeredoutfromunderthesofa.Therestoftheheadfollowed,anditscrutinizeditssurroundingssuspiciously.Itwasindeedmuchtoobigtobeamouse,Richardwascertainofthat."Hi,"saidDoor,warmly."Areyouokay?"Sheextendedherhand.Theanimalclimbedintoit,thenranupherarm,nestlinginthecrookofit.Doorstrokeditssidewithherfinger.Itwasdarkbrown,withalongpinktail.Therewassomethingthatlookedlikeafoldedpieceofpaperattachedtoitsside.

           "It’sarat,"saidRichard.

           "Yes,itis.Areyougoingtoapologize?"

           "What?"

           "Apologize."

           Maybehehadn’theardherproperly.Maybehewastheonewhowasgoingmad."Toarat?"

           Doorsaidnothing,fairlymeaningfully."I’msorry,"saidRichard,totherat,withdignity,"ifIstartledyou."