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"Only on second glance did it register that Mona had put on Aunt Queen's cameo and that it looked beautiful at her throat

"ToOliver of the Tala with theweather he wore a white three-piece suit with a lemon yellow tie I remember that tie for soray hair was clipped short, coht back from his temples, and he looked like a man in his sixties of excellent health

"They were all vivid impressive people and the house in no way overpowered them or diminished their easy charm

"I was very glad to see Stirling again and had a strong sense that Aunt Queen would be disturbed if she knew As it was I had little choice in the matter and that felt very comfortable for me

" 'I saw your friend, Goblin, outside,' he said confidentially, as he shook my hand 'He indicated you wished to be on your own ¡¯

" 'Are you serious?' I asked 'Did you really see him and talk to him?¡¯

" 'Yes, he was right by the gate He was very strong, but you , rather over-developed For me the world's a crowded place ¡¯

" 'Was he angry or bitter?' I asked

" 'Neither,' he said, 'but rather glad to be seen ¡¯

"At this point Mona spoke up, taking our arms as she interposed, 'Why don't I invite him in? We'll make a place at the table for him?¡¯

" 'No, not tonight,' I said 'I want to be selfish He has his moments This is one of mine ¡¯

"The dinner went on swily, with lots of conversation about whether I should in fact go to Europe, and Michael felt that there coo to Europe and one can go either too early or too late I agreed with that heartily and then dared to ask if it was at all possible for Mona to go if Aunt Queen would agree to bring another female chaperone dedicated entirely to Mona, and Iroom seemed to require, that I would never risk Mona's health or well-being for cheap lust

"I hope I ure that I tried to be When only Mona consented to everything I said, Roent on to state matter-of-factly that Mona couldn't be away from Mayfair Medical at this time, it was simply out of the question, and that if it was at all possible she and Michael would take Mona to Europe so that Mona could have the experience again

"In fact, Mona went on to explain that it had been on her trip to Europe that her 'condition' had been discovered and the tour had been cut short for that reason and she had coo intense study at the medical center, plus injections of hors as well

"Throughout, nobody mentioned Mona's er