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It was the first time Pandora had ever heard Phoebe mention her late husband’s name Tentatively she asked, "Did you and he ever try to find shapes in the clouds?"

"Oh, all the time Henry was very clever--he could find dolphins, ships, elephants, and roosters I could never see a shape until he pointed it out But then it would appear as if by ray eyes turned crystalline with infinite variations of tenderness and wistfulness

Although Pandora had experienced grief before, having lost both parents and a brother, she understood that this was a different kind of loss, a heavier weight of pain Filled with compassion and sympathy, she dared to say, "Hehe sounds like a lovelyin a moment of warm connection "He was," she said "Someday I’ll tell you about him"

And finally Pandora understood where a little sht lead

After dinner, instead of the custoether to the second floor fa and tables Like the downstairs summer parlor, it faced the ocean with a row of screened s to catch the breeze A tea tray, plates of sweets, port, and brandy were brought up, and a box of cigars was set out on the shaded balcony for gentlee Now that the formal dinner was concluded, the atmosphere onderfully relaxed Froht piano and plunk out a tune

Pandora went to sit in a group with Cassandra and the other young woed to stop as a set of warers closed around her wrist

Gabriel’s voice fell gently against her ear "What were you discussing with the pri your potatoes so industriously?"

Pandora turned and looked up at hiladness at the fact that he’d sought her out "How did you notice what I was doing all the way from the other end of the table?"

"I nearly did h dinner"

As she stared up into his s all its s "I was de cloud formations with my potatoes," she said "I don’t think Mr Arterson appreciated my stratocumulus"

"I’m afraid we’re all a bit too frivolous for him"

"No, one can’t blame him I knew better than to play with ain"

Mischief flickered in his eyes "What a pity I was about to show you the one thing carrots are good for"