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〃You said 'plotted。'〃
〃Weren't you sure of it？ I knew at once； when I learned how
… short your time is； that I had exactly one chance to get you
alone and make you realize that I want you to e back with
your shield； not on it。 There is only one way for a woman
… … to tell a warrior that。 So I enlisted Father's help to get you
away from my swarm of children。〃 …She chuckled again。 〃But
… the worst scamp I have ruined my carefully plotted plans。 For
he has； dear one…I don't dare risk it at home； I'll …always
regret that we didn't succeed 。 。 and I hope you will； too。〃 〃Oh； I will； I do！ You put Mr。 Johnson up to suggesting this ride？ Won't he suspect？〃
〃I'm sure he does。 And disapproves。 Of me； Theodore…not of you。 But my reputation is as。 safe in his hands as in yours。 Want to hear a sidesplitting joke？ One that will make us laugh
so hard that we'll forget how frustrated we are。〃
〃I'll laugh if you do。〃
539…〃Did you wonder how I knew the perfect place？ Because I have been there before； Theodore； for the same purpose。 But that's not the joke； this is： That rascal in the back seat was conceived there…on the very~ spot I was going to have you place me。〃 …
Lazarus thought ~ split second； then guffawed。 〃You're sure？〃
〃Utterly certain； sir。 Ten feet from where you stopped。 By that biggest black…walnut tree。 I planned to have you place me on the same spot。 I'm sentimental； Theodore； I wanted you to have me right where I conceived my favorite child。 And the little imp stopped me！ After I had bee quite excited thinking about doing it with you on the very spot。〃
Lazarus thought a long moment…decided that he did want to know。 〃Who was he； Maureen？〃
〃What？ Oh！ I tuppose I invited that so I …shan't resent it。 Theodore； I'm scarlet but not that scarlet。 My husband； dear
…all my children are his； no possibility of error。 You have seen Brian only as an officer…but in private my husband is quite playful。 So much so that I never wear bloomers when I gojoyriding with him。
〃It。 was February eighteenth； a Sunday； one I'll never forget。 I kept a hired girl then； Nancy was too young to leave with the younger ones； and Brian was on the road； traveling； and wanted me to be ready for anything when he was in town； arid he had just bought his first automobile。
〃That Sunday was one of those false…spring days； and Brian decided to take me joyriding。 Just me。… He had established a firm rule that some occa'~ions were for all our family； some were just for Mama and Papa…a good policy in a large family； we think。 So we got …to that lovely picnic spot； pretty even in winter； and the ground was dry。 We sat and lallygagged； and he had his hand where yours is…and he told me to take my…clothes off。〃 … …
〃In February？〃
〃I didn't protest。 It was at least sixty and no wind…but I would in much colder weather if my husband asked me to。 So I did…all but shoes and stockings； and I looked like one of those French postcards you men buy in cigar stores。 I didn't feel cold； I felt grand…！ like to feel naughty； and Brian encourages me to； in private。 He put down the back seat cushion
…on that spot…and put a blanket on it。 And had me。 And that's when I got Woodrow。 It had to be then because Brian was home just one day and that was the only； time。 Qqite
540unusual； ore loving； we enjoy it so。〃 She chuckled。 〃When we were sure； Brian teased me about the iceman and' the milkman and Ihe posirnan…or was it the grocery boy？ I teased right back that it could have been any of them…but the woodman got there first 。 。 in the woods。 Right here； dear one； I won't be but a moment。〃
They all went in； as Woodie woke up （if he had slept； Lazarus had dark doubts…then reviewed it in his mind and decided that Maureen had been careful both in voice and phrasing）。 Lazarus bought the little boy an ice…cream cone to keep him quiet and sat him at the fountain； then moved to the other end and listened to her telephone call； he wanted to know what lies he must back up。 … …
〃Carol？ Mama； dear。 Have you counted our zoo lately？
Stop worrying； the scamp hid in the back seat； and we didn't know it until we were almost to Electric Park Yes； dear； Electric Park and I'm feeling very gay。 I'm go？ng to keep Woodrow with us and not let the imp spoil our fun
Earlier than I want to； Woodrow will be sleepy too soon to suit Mama； I want to ride every ride and win at least a Kewpie doll at the booths 。 。 。 Yes； as long as Marie is in bed on time。 Make fudge for the boys…no； not fudge； we must watch the sugar ration。 Make popcorn； and tell them I'm sorry they… were worried。 Then you older ones may stay up and
…say good…night to Uncle Ted。 Good…bye； dear。〃
She thanked the druggist with smiling dignity； took Woodie's hand and left unhurriedly。 But the moment Lazarus had the car rolling； she took his right hand and restored it to warm intimacy of bare thighs。 〃Any trouble？〃 he asked； caressing her silken skin。
〃None。 They had been engaged in a bloodthirsty game of Fl~n h and didn't miss him until it was time to put him to bed； only minutes before I called。 Then they were worried； but not yet frantic； my lfttle demon has hidden on us before。 Theodore； Electric Park is an expense you did not expect。 Will you put aside your pride and let me help？〃
〃I would if I needed help： I don't have thet sort of useless pride。 But I have plenty of money； truly。 If I run short； 11l tell you。〃 （Beloved darling； I've been teaching optimists not to draw to inside straights； and I wish I could spend every cent of it on emeralds to set off your beautiful skin。 But your pride makes that impossible。）
〃Theodore； not only do I love you； you are a most fortable person to be with。〃
541Taking Woodie and his mother to Electric Park turuect out to be more fun than Lazarus expected。 He had nothing against amusement parks and was willing to be anywhere with Maureen…except that this time he expected to put up with restless frustration； in public where he must treat her as 〃Mrs。 Smith；〃 after being in warmest privacy…then disappointed。
But she taught him a lesson in how to enjoy the inevitable；
He learned that Maureen could be unblushingly intimate despite people all around them and still maintain her smiling； regal； public dignity。 She did it by keeping her persona always intact…happy young matron with boy child clutching her hand； both enjoying an evening of innocent fun as guests of 〃Cousin〃 Theodore； 〃Uncle〃 Ted…while she found endless chances to continue her gaily bawdy conversation。 Maureen did it not in whispers but in ordinary tones pitched to reach Lazarus' ears only； or sometimes to Lazarus and Woodie but so phrased that the child would neither understand nor be interested。
Once she gently chided Lazarus。 〃Smile； beloved man。 Let your face show that you are where you want to be； doing what you want to do。 There； that's better。 Now hold that expression and tell me why you were looking glum。〃
He grinned at her。 〃Because I'm frustrated； Maureen。 Because I'm not in a certain spot by a big walnut tree。〃
She chuckled as if he had said something witty。 〃Alone？〃
〃Heavens； nol With you。〃
〃Not so vehemently； Theodore。 You are not courting me； you are my cousin who is wasting part of your precious leave by treating me and my child to an evening of fun 。 。 when you had hoped that I would find you a young lady who would turn out to be not at all ladylike when you took her to a dark place near a big walnut tree。 You're a good sport about it… but not so enthusiastic as to cause Mrs。 Grundy to raise her eyebrow 。 。 and there es Mrs。 Grundy now。 Mrs。 Simpson！ And Mr。 Simpson。 How nice to run across you！ Lauretta； may I present my dear cousin Staff Sergeant Bronson？ And Mr。 Simpson； Theodore。〃 Maureen added； 〃Or perhaps you have met？ At church？ Before war was declared？〃
Mrs。 Simpson looked him over； counted the money in his wallet； checked his underwear； inspected his shave and haircut
…assigned him a barely passing mark。 〃You belong …to our church； Mr。 Johnson？〃
〃'Bronson；' Lauretta。 Theodore Bronson； Father's eldest sister's son。〃
〃Either way；〃 Mr。 Simpson said heartily； 〃it's a pleasure to
542shake hands with one of 'Our Boys。' Where are you stationed；
… … Sergeant？〃… 〃Camp Fu~ston； sir。 Mrs。 Simpson； I was a visito？ to your
church； my membership is in Springfield。〃 …
Maureen stopped their questions by asking Lazarus to fetch T Woodie from the miniature railroad train； just returning to its
ticket…booth depot。 〃Pull him like a cork； Theodore； three
rides is enough。 Lauretta； I didn't see~you at Red Cross last
week。 May we count on you this week？〃
Lazarus returned with Woodie in time f~r Mr。 Simpson to wave and call out； 〃Good luck； Sergeant！〃 as the Simpsons
moved on。 'The trio went next to the pony ride； got Woodie astraddle one； Mrs。 Smith and Lazarus sat on a bench； enjoyed more very private talk while very much in the public eye。 〃Maureen； you stole that base beautifully。〃 …
〃No problem； dear one。 I knew someone would see us； so I was ready。 I'm pleased that it was the nastiest old gossip in
our church； I made sure she didn't miss us。 Pillars of the church and war profiteers； I despise them。 So I pulled her fangs and let's forget them。 You were telling me about a certain dark spot。 How was I dressed？〃
〃Like a French postcard！〃…
〃Why； Sergeant Bronson！…and me a respectable woman。 Or almost。 Surely you don't think I would dare be that shameless？〃； …
〃Maureen； I'm not sure what you would dare。 You have startled…and delighted me…several times。 I think you have
the courage to do anything you want to do。〃 … …
〃Possibly； Theodore； but I have limits on what I will do； no matter how much I want to。 Do you want to know my limits？〃
〃If you want me to know； you'll tell me。 If you don't； you won't。〃 …
〃I want you to know； beloved Theodore。 I would like to strip naked this very moment。 I refrain only for practical reasons…not moral ones and not shyness； I want to give you my body； let you enjoy it any way you please…while I enjoy yours。 There are no limits to what I want to do with you
but only to what I will do。
〃First〃…she ticked them off…〃I will not risk being pregnant by any man but Brian。 Second； I will not knowingly risk the well…being of my husband and children。〃 …
〃Weren't you risking that tonight？〃
〃Was I； Theodore？〃
Lazarus thought about it。 Pregnancy？ Not a factor。 Disease？ She apparently trusted him on that…and Yes； darling； you are right。 I don't know why you hold that opinion of me； but you're right。 What does that leave？ A chance of scandal if we had been caught。 …How much chance？ Very little； it's as safe a spot as one could w