iteouslycrawlingoutofthepotetc.etc.etamalla-flutterbeforeshesomuchasseparatedtheeggs.

    Then,justasshebeherairtheflourintothebutter,apairofhandsclaspedtightaroundherwaist.Thinking,atfirst,itwasbutkithorseplay,shetwitchedheramplehipstoputhimoffassheslidtheeggyolksintotheroux.Butasshemixedinthelobstermeat,dicedup,allnice,shefeltthosehandsstrayhigher.

    Thatwaswhentoomuchin.Shealwaysregrettedthat.

    Andasshewasfoldingiopplingtentsofthebowlofbeatenegg-white,Godknowswhatitwashegotuptobutsomuchsosheflingsallintothewhitedishwithabandonand:

    "Tohellwithit!"

    Intotheovehesoufflé;theovendoorslamsshut.

    Idrawaveil.

    "But,mam!"Ioftenbeggedher."Whowasthatman?"

    "Lawksamercy,child,"saysshe."Ihoughttoask.IwerethatworriedtheIgivetheovendoorwouldbringthesoufflédown."

    But,no.Thesouffléwentuplikeamontgolfierand,assoonasitsgoldenheadknockedimperiouslyagainsttheovendoor,shebustthroughtheveilIhavediscreetlydrawhisseofpassionandemerged,smoothingherapron,ioextracttheexemplarydishamidstoohsandaahsandoftheassembledkitstaff,someforty-fiveinnumber.

    Butnotquiteexemplary.Theethermattheeater.Thehousekeeperbringshisplateherself,slapsitdown."Hesaid:"Tropdene,"andscrapeditoffhisplateintothefire,"sheannouhagratifiedsmirk.Sheisamodelofrefiandalwaysveryparticularaboutheraspirates.Shehiccups.Sheevensaysthe"h"in"hic".

    Mymotherweepsforshame.

    "Whatwen