Billie jerked herself up straight. Oh good God. had she giggled aloud?

Oh what to say? They were all looking at her. She'd HAVE to say something! She rubbed her forehead but nothing came.

Oh what the hell!

"I was wondering." she smiled around at them all. "what squills were." "SQUILLS!!" Maud Ellen squeaked, as if how did such a word get to HER dinner table.

"Yes!" said Billie positively, defiantly. "I said squills."

Billie slowly crossed her legs, then leisurely took a sip of coffee.

"Why not?" she asked archly, and she looked Maud Ellen square in the eye. Really, she was SICK of Maud Ellen, just PHYSICALLY SICK of her! She ought to say right now. Maud Ellen, you make me sick. PHYSICALLY sick, you're a pain, just a great big pain in the-

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Miss Winters." Billie heard the doctor's deep voice say, and Billie turned, and there was the doctor REALLY looking at her. REALLY seeing her for the first time!

"How interesting that you should speak of squills. They are one of my favorite. flowers in England. They are bulbous flowers and resemble hyacinths. The blue squills are especially nice."

"Oh." said Billie, soaking in the handsomeness of the doctor, actually sitting right there and REALLY looking at her. The inside bonfire was starting again. Oh maybe the doctor DID like her and didn't have a lover!

"As a matter of fact. blue squills are my husband's hobby, and his rock garden is quite famous in London. Queen Mary was a frequent visitor.

"QUEEN MARY!?" Maud Ellen exclaimed. as if she had been startled by a trumpet blast.

"Yes. She was a dear. quaint person and doted on blue squills.” "Your husband?" Billie echoed weakly, stunned.

"Yes. Our careers have temporarily separated us, but we have our permanent home in London. I fly there tomorrow for our son's wedding."

"How fascinating!" Maud Ellen gushed. in complete thaw. "Fancy your knowing Queen Mary! And I suppose royalty will be there at the wedding?" "Yes. A few friends."

"Well, well! DO tell! My dear. WON'T you have some more coffee? No, I'll tell you what let's do-we'll all just adjourn to the living room and make ourselves nice and comfy, and we'll just have ourselves a nice liqueur. A creme de menthe? Perhaps a little more Bourbon, my dear-on the rocks?"

"I am sorry but I must leave immediately and pack." the doctor said firmly, rising.

Billie inertly sat. numbly staring before her, as the others left the dining-room. Husband!

Oh, she had made a horrible fool of herself!

She felt rather ill. The room seemed slightly rocking, as if it were on water. "Billie honey child!" Maud Ellen cried, re-entering. "our dear doctor is leaving! Oh now, don't you fret." she whispered. "I know the next time I'll have a DIVINE man for you, just you wait and see."

"May I drop you, Miss Winters?" the doctor called from the hall. Billy slowly arose and joined them in the hall. George held open her coat. "My dear." Maud Ellen gushed, "I DO so wish you weren't leaving so soon. George, we MUST drop in on our London trip."

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