Idliketotasteitagain."

    "Butsurelyyoucouldstealabottleortwofromtown."

    "Mypapagreesandhisbeforehimandbadbadback."Hewipedhisbrowwithah-cakedhand."Onedaywellgetthegrapes.Youlearienthere."

    IpassedmuchtimewithLuchógandSmaolach,whotaughtmehowtofellAtreeandnotbecrushed,thegeometryandphysicsbehindadeadfalltrap,theprleofchasetocatchahareonfoot.ButmyfavoritedayswerespentwithSpedthebestofallweremybirthdays.

    IstillkeptmydarandhadchosenApril23—Shakespearesbirthday—asmyown.Ihspringinthewoods,thedatefellonaSaturday,andSpevitedmetogotothelibrarytospendthenightquietlyreadingtogether.Whenwearrived,thechamberhadbeentransformed.Dozensofsmalldlessuffusedtheroomwithanamberglowremiofthelightfromacampfireuhestars.hecrackattheentranceway,shehadchalkedabirthdaygreetinginascrolleddesignofherowndevising.Thegeneralshabbihecobwebs,dirtyblas,andthreadbarerugs—hadbeenclearedaway,makingtheplaceandcozy.Shehadlaidinasmallfeastofbreadandcheese,lockedawayagainstthemidsooleboiledcheerfully,withrealteainourcups.

    "Thisisincredible,Speck."

    "Thankgoodnesswedecidedtodayisyourbirthday,orIwouldhavegooallthisfussfornothing."

    Atoddtimesthatevening,Iwouldlookupfrommytexttowatchherreadingnearby.Lightandshadowflickeredacrossherfadlikeclockworkshebrushedastrayloinfrontofhereyes.Herpreseurbedme;Ididhroughmanypagesofmybookandhadtoreadmaencesmorethaethatnight,IawokeinherembrasteadoftheusualkigorshoulderingawaywhenIwokeupwithsom