Again the two how-do-you-do's were simultaneous.

Involuntarily, nervously, Billie giggled, then blushed miserably as she felt Maud Ellen's stare turned upon her.

"I mean" Billie stammered, somehow feeling compelled to explain the giggle, "I meanit seemed so Greek."

"Greek!" Maud Ellen squealed.

"Like the chorus in a Greek play, dear" George said.

"Oh. OH! oh yes but of course!" said Maud Ellen, somewhat melting. Culture being one of the very few things she had found she could not either take by storm or witheringly ignore, it received her rare respect.

The four of them just stood there.

"Oh!" Maud Ellen said, suddenly seeing that the four of them were just standing there. "Shall we?" She outspread her arms and vaguely moved herself, gently sweeping them toward chairs. Billie found herself sitting opposite the doctor.

"Martinis all?" Maud Ellen asked, handing the Martini glasses to George. "Bourbon" boomed the doctor.

"Oh" Maud Ellen exclaimed, somewhat taken back.

"And soda?" she asked sweetly.

"On the rocks."

Maud Ellen, caught by the gruff answer while reaching up for a whiskey glass, momentarily froze.

The drinks were served in silence.

Billie took her Martini with firm resolution. Perhaps with its help she could talk, could lose her self-consciousness. At her first sip she turned her head to hide the grimace.

She really must say something soon. What could she say?

She took a big sip and slid it right on down. Yes, that was much better. How handsome the doctor was! That beautifully strong neck! The eyebrows were thick and completely black, and they were accented by the clear vibrant skin, void of make-up.

Billie took another big sip, slid it right on down, and cleared her throat: "Your practice, doctor, is it in town?"

"No. I'm in the city at the zoo."

George darted in: "Dr. Kurtman is the zoologist at the zoo in the city. And, if I may say so, I have been told she is one of the most eminent zoologists in the country."

"The death of Dr. Kinsey" the doctor stated in her deep voice, "was an enormous blow to our ranks."

She broodingly looked down into her Bourbon, then took a big swig.

"His study of the sex life of the wasp was brilliant. absolutely brilliant." "Oh" murmured Billie.

"Yes, brilliant. It was the direct inspiration for my thesis, which also received quite some attention. It was on the sex life of the penguin. Perhaps you have heard of it?"

Billie and George shook their heads. Maud Ellen simply stared.

"The penguin's sex is indistinguishable" the doctor announced. "Some said such a study was impossible."

Nobody said anything.

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