He glanced up at her; then he said softly: "Believe me, Marie...They need no 'defending'

It was late in the afternoon before she spoke to him again. She had been brooding, and fidgeting; finally she blurted out: "Mike... this is Friday; I won't see you tomorrow, so why don't you come home and have dinner with me and Danny ...? You know Danny; he loves to fuss in the kitchen..." "Well, I... I'd like to, but... Maybe Danny has a date for tonight, Marie." She flushed, laughing; then she said: "So what? I like to fuss in the kitchen too. We could both fuss in the kitchen, Mike..."

He hesistated, then he said gently: "I'm sorry Marie, I can't... I'm really sorry, but I promised somebody.

She brightened with a false gaiety to hide her extreme disappointment. "My old rival," she said. "My same old rival! I knew it! Someday, I'd like to meet her to see what's she's got I haven't got!"

Michael laughed to hide his embarrassment.

Their workday was almost over, when the phone rang. Michael grabbed it, knowing whose voice he would hear when he said: "Hello..."

"Hello Darling... I'm leaving the house now. I should be in New York, and at your place no later than six. I'm stopping for the bottle of gin, but that shouldn't take too long. I made pastry, Sweetheart, the kind you like..." "Oh yes, hello Mr. Brown... that's fine."

"Is Marie listening, Honey?"

... Uh... yes, Mr. Brown..."

"Well, I want to tell her that I bought the meat for Sunday. Did Marie invite you for dinner yet, Baby?"

"No, Mr. Brown... but it will be... inevitable..."

"Well, I'd like to tell her about the meat..."

"Call again, Mr. Brown."

"Yes, perhaps that would be best. Okay, I'll call back. Miss me all week, Darling?"

"Of course, Mr. Brown..."

"I missed you too, Sweetheart. I thought Friday would never come..." "I thought so too, Mr. Brown.'

"See you later, Darling..."

"I hope so, Mr. Brown."

When he put down the receiver, she was still watching him. "That was no 'Mr. Brown', she said; "That was my old rival, wasn't it?"

He glanced up at her and grinned sheepishly.

"It was. I can always tell when you speak to her, you turn so red." "I do?"

"You sure do."

He busied himself at his desk, putting everything away.

"Okay," she said; "you can go out with her tonight; but Sunday will you come over and have dinner with Danny and me, as usual?"

"I'd love to, Marie."

"You know how Danny is about fussing in the kitchen; sometimes I think he likes to have you come over every Sunday almost as much as I do."

"Oh yes? That's nice. I appreciate it, Marie."

The phone rang sharply.

"It's me again, Darling... put her on..."

"Oh, hello Danny," he said cheerfully. "Glad to hear from you." Then he held out the receiver. "It's for you, Marie," he said. "Your brother..."

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