the tender plantlets she had carried home beneath her blouse from Edon Heights later that night. Sho had always wondered if Van had over missed any of the plant outtings.....

Evadne's mental journey into the past had taken only an instant but, fearful lest Van should notice, she asked quickly, "What are you doing these days? Still with Columbus Publishing?"

"I've been promoted to assistant oditor. you to remember about the flower garden!"

And how like

Van hadn't forgotten, then, Evadno thought.

"The forget-me-nots turned out especially well."

Evadno, knowing Van's penchant for puns and doubleentendres, looked up intently for an instant, then reexperienced the familiar skipped heart-beat whon van looked directly at her.

"You know," Van continued, "I hardly recognised you at first with your hair colored platinum blond. Let's hear about you. I understand you're with some one now. Are you happy?"

"Jeanne is very good to me," Evadne held up her left hand, an ornate diamond winked its oorroboration. "She's district manager for Simmons Savings & Loan. I'm a lady of leisure now. Jeanne insists on it. Of course, I have a small income from the family estate. Both my parents were killed in an auto accident five years ago, or didn't you know?"!

Van expressed the conventional phrases of belated sympathy, after which there was an uncomfortable silence.

And then, Evadne could not resist asking, "I suppose you are living with Denise?"

Van smiled sadly, "No, I could never persuade her to live with ze. She drifted on to other affairs and, about three years ago, finally wound up with Juana Pelas. I believe you know Juana, didn't you?"

7