Van held out her arms. To Evadne it was like going home, Without knowing they intended to, but each by mutual, unspoken consent, they found themselves dancing to "Blue Tango", just as they had done so often six long years ago. Evadne closed her eyes. It was so easy to imagine this was six years ago and she was back with Van on Eden Height 3.

The music ended.

"Gue so I got rather carried away! " Van's laughter had a flase ring to it as she took up the dish towel and dri ed the last of the silverware. "Where do the se go?"

"In the drawer there," Evadne pointed. "I think the coffee's ready."

Van noticed Evadne's hands shook as she poured the steaming black liquid into two fragile china cups. The radio blarod forth a current rock-and-roll number and Evadno turr.d the volume down.

Van walked toward the hallway. "I'd better see if my clothes are dry. The coffee looks as though it'll stay

hot for awhile

11

When Van returned to the kitchen, clad in her somewhat rumpled but completely dry suit, she was glad to see that Evadne had not taken their coffee into the living-room.

"My clothes may not be neat, but they're dry. Thanks for the loan of the robe."

"You're quite welcome.

"Evadne....

"Ycs?"

"Why did you choose Jeanne?"

Taken aback by the direct question, Evadne made an attempt at light-heartedne ss. "I didn't. "I didn't. She chose me. I didn't want to make a career of just living in a house by the side of the road and being a friend to butoho s." Realising how

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