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"Ow!" he howled

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she said quickly "Here, let me see to that"

She stepped on his toe

"Ouch!"

"I'm sorry sorry sorry" She looked terribly concerned, and normally he would have milked this for all it orth, but damn it, his foot really hurt

"I'll be fine, Miss Hotchkiss," he said "All I need is for you to step off of my toe, and--''

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she said, for what seemed the hundredth time She took a step back

He winced as he flexed his toes

"I'ain"

"But--"

"I insist"

"At least let me see to your foot" She bent down

"Please don't" There were few situations in which Ja appropriate, but this was one of the up "But I should--''

S the top of her scalp

"My chin," Jaet out

Her blue eyes filled orry and embarrassment "I' his eyes in agony "Right where you whacked ulp "I'm sorry"

And that hen he ain would he keep his eyes closed around a suspiciously clu she was He didn't kno she ed it, but he heard a surprised yelp, and then so toward the ground

Well, he thought he'd hit the ground

If it had occurred to hiround

But as it turned out, he should have prayed he'd hit the ground It would have been so much more pleasant than the rosebush

Chapter 5

"I’ to decide which bit of him hurt the worst

"But I am!" she wailed "Here, letwith a somewhat quieter, "touch me Please"

Her lips parted withrapidly, and for a ht," he forced himself to lie "I'm not hurt" At her incredulous stare, he added, "Very much"

She sed "I'm so clumsy Even Susan refuses to dance with me"