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I ahter, she thinks, and in that reclamation, she reht, and the dreaed her to dream,

For the remainder of that week, Vera contearden At work she wanders around the library, walking ahost of her father beside her She knows that all she needs is someone to help her understand the words she reads It is as if she is a seedling, with a tender green strand pushing up through earth that resists her rowing upward

And then one day she is at the counter organizing parchedwith a cane across thebehind him At a table near the wall, he sits down and opens a book

Vera approaches hi that her mother would not approve of her plan, but a plan it suddenly is

“Excuse h rheumy eyes

“Veronika?” he says after a long moment

“Yes,” she says This man used to come by the house, in older, better days She does not think to mention her father, but he is here between them, as surely as the dust “I am sorry to bother you, but I seek a tutor I haven’t much money ”

The cleric relasses It takes him a while to speak, and when he does, his voice is barely more than a whisper “I cannot help you myself It is the tihs “As if I couldbut I know some students perhaps who are not so afraid as an old man I will ask ”

“Thank you ”

“Be careful, young Veronika,” he says, putting on his glasses “And tell no one of this conversation ”

“This secret is safe with me ”

The cleric doesn’t smile “No secret is safe ”

Fourteen

It was alot hoth of the day and yet captivated by tonight’s story, she fed the dogs, played with theed into a co herself a cup of tea when a car drove up

Jeff Who else would it be at twelve-thirty?