34.

"I hadn't planned on being home early--at least, not at first".

"Well, how did it go"?

"That's my question".

"It couldn't have been better. I'm a girl--a real girl! And you?"

"Well...the store was a madhouge".

"That's not what I mean".

Nancy smiled impishly. "I'm a vice-president now, is that what you mean?"

"Oh, Nancy, that's simply marvelous! I'm thrilled for you." Impulsively Joan walked over and gave the other girl a kiss--an affectionate sisterly kiss.

Nancy Morgan looked up, happily surprised. There was a quick flicker of that appraising stare she used so often. Then she turned away and said, "Take off that Santa costume, Joan. I'11 bring you a robe." Joan folded the costume and slipped into the flowered silk robe and the yellow high heeled slippers Nancy brought from the bedroom. Nancy led Joan to a seat beside her on the couch. "Here," she said. "Look at the light. I've got to fix your eyes. You've been crying, you silly."

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"It's Christmas, Joan said, "And those poor girls--" There was a long silence in the room. Finally, Joan adjusted the folds of her robe with a sibilant tucking and smoothing. "I want to ask you something, Nancy. Something I've always wondered about."

"Yes?"

"Sometimes...sometimes you stare at me as though you're try- ing to guess something or to--"

wrong.

"No, I stare at Jack Langley that way. I always have.

"I've been concerned, Nancy.

n

"No, nothing was ever wrong.

I used to think something was

It's just--" She snapped the