yweretormentingstandingbesidethem,andforwhateverreasoforherpletely.Fetaboutit,her!

    I,Hayriyepeeredatmesuspiciously.

    “I’vecriedmyselfdry,Hayriye,”Isaid.“Fod’ssake,plassofwater.”

    Shedidso,silently.BeforeIdrankit,Istaredintohereyes,swollenfromweeping.

    “PoorEnishteEffendi,theysayhewasalreadydeadbeforeShekure’swedding,”Iented.“People’smouthsaren’tlikebagsthatbechedup,someevenclaimtherewasfoulplayinvolved.”

    Inanexaggeratedgesture,shelookeddowoes.Theedherheadandwithoutlookingatmesaid,“MayGodprotectusfrombaselessslander.”

    HerfirstgesturefirmedwhatI’dsaid,andmoreovertheceofherwordsveyedthattheywerespokenunderduress—tohidethetruth.

    “What’sgoingon?”Iaskedabruptly,whisperingasifIwereherfidant.

    IndecisiveHayriyehadofcourseuoodthattherewasnohopeofclaiminganyauthorityoverShekureafterEnishteEffendi’sdeath.Andashortwhileago,shewastheonemwiththemostheartfelttears.

    “What’stobee,now?”shesaid.

    “Shekureholdsyouinhighregard,”Isaidinmyhabitofgivingnews.Liftingupthelidsofthepotsofhalvalinedupbetweenthelargeclayjarofgrapemolassesandthepicklejar,sneakingafingerfulfromoneorsimplyleaniosmellanother,Iaskedwho’dsenteachofthem.

    Hayriyewasrattlingoffwho’dsentwhichpot:“Thisone’sfromKas1mEffendiofKayseri;thisoheassistantfromtheminiaturistsdivisionwholivestwostreetsover;that’sfromthelocksmith,Left-HandedHamdi;thatoheyoungbridefromEdirne—”whenShekureinterruptedher.

    “Kalbiye,thelateElegantEffendi’swidow,didn’tetoofferherdolences,d