They stared at each other across the table. The waitress came with their sandwiches and they were silent until she went away. Then Myra spoke.

"But I don't see...Why Lee was so happy this morning, so ...Oh, I'm terribly sorry, Alice, I didn't mean....."

"That's all right, Myra. I think I understand. Guess I'd been something of a trial to her lately..a kind of problem, I suppose. If she was happy this morning it was because I relie ved her of the...burden."

"Would you tell me what happened? Or should I ask Lee?"

Alice looked down at her plate. "No, I'll tell you, Myra. I'm not sure that Lee even understands it well enough to tell you."

Myra picked up her sandwich and bit into it, her eyes on the girl's downcast face.

"You see," Alice went on. "I know when I'm defeated. Lee is very...fond of me. I guess at first I thought that would be enough. I..I supplied a certain something she was missing." The girl looked up at Myra, defiantly then, her oyes suddenly wet. "Wo both thought it would be enough."

"You mean you are not in love with her?"

"I mean she is not in love with me. She told me from the very beginning that she wouldn't leave you for anything in the world. But I didn't care about that...as long as I thought she loved me."

Alice took a sip of her coffee and Myra followed suit. "Even seeing her only one night a week...I was satisfied with that..as long as I thought she loved me. But Lee is a very straightforward person..you know that." Myra nodded agreement, her eyes compassi ona te.

"She couldn't even pretend. For instance..when she talke d about things, well, it was always 'we'..'We should pick up tickets for the opera next week,' or 'We have to deoid o when to take our vacations,'..and the 'we' was always you

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