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"Better for whom?"

"Me!" he cried veheh it was an afterthought He coughed a couple of tih drops in the pocket of his plaid robe Shaking one out, he popped it in hisyou any good to get so excited," Maryanne said with unruffled patience "I wasan observation and it still stands I believe you need a wife"

"Go observe soh drop

"Aha!" she cried, waving her index finger at hi in your life?"

Nolan frowned and Maryanne turned back to the stove She lifted the lid from the soup to stir it briskly Then she lowered the burner When she was through, she saith a gli as far away fro in the saive the iree exactly as you da woued "I quit my job at Rent-A-Maid because you insisted" It had worked out for the best, since she hadnow, but this wasn’t thethat up It’s the only thing you’ve ever done that I wanted I practically had to get down onyou to leave that crazy job before you injured yourself"

"You didn’t!"

"Trustexperience and not one I intend to repeat I’ve known you how long? A"It seeuilty It isn’t going to work"

"Why should you feel anything of the sort? Just because living next door to you is enough to drive a man to drink"

"You’re the one who foundnext door to me, then I’m not the one to blame!"

"Don’t re himself a wife had been made in jest, but he’d certainly taken it seriously In fact, he see her welcome had worn extre’s under control here"

"Does that ?"

She hated the enthusiastic lift in his voice, as if he couldn’t wait to be rid of her Although he wasn’t ade, she supposed; Nolan had been generous enough to her over the past "

"Good" He didn’t bother to disguise his delight

"But I still think you’d do well to consider what I said" Maryanne had the irresistible urge to heap coals on the fires of his indignation "A wife could be a great help to you"

Nolan frowned heavily, drawing his eyebrows into a deep V "I think the "

"What? That you marry?"

"Exactly Haven’t you heard? A woman’s place isn’t in the ho a career for herself Living a fuller life, and all that It’s not doing theyoua live-in housekeeper"

His brown eyes narrowed "Then ere you saying?"

"That you’re a capable talented lanced surreptitiously at his manuscript, still tidily stacked by the typewriter "But unfortunately, that doesn’t mean a whole lot if you don’t have someone close--a friend, a companion, a…wife--to share it with"

"Don’t you worry about me, Little Miss Muffet I’ve lived my own life from the time I was thirteen You may think I need soht," she said reluctantly She opened his door, then hesitated "You’ll call if you want anything?"

"No"

She released a short sigh of frustration "That’s what I thought The soup should be done in about thirty rined, added, "I suppose I should thank you"

"I suppose you should, too, but it isn’t necessary"

"What about the roceries? You can’t afford acts of charity, you know Wait a et it," she snapped "I can spend my money on whatever I damn well please I’m my own person, remember? You can just owe me Buyelse

Maryanne’s own apart she did alk around turning on all the lights No sooner had she finished when there was a loud knock at her door She opened it to find Nolan standing there in his disreputable

"Yes?" she inquired sweetly