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           "Ifthatguywritesmymother—"

           "Hewon’t.Nobody’lleverknowaboutthis—exceptourfriendsandenemies."

           Dawnwasbreakingoverthesea.

           "It’sgettingblue,"shesaid.

           "Itdoesverywell,"agreedAmorycritically,andthenasanafter-thought:"It’salmostbreakfast-time—doyouwantsomethingtoeat?"

           "Food—"shesaidwithacheerfullaugh."Foodiswhatqueeredtheparty.Weorderedabigsuppertobesentuptotheroomabouttwoo’clock.Alecdidn’tgivethewaiteratip,soIguessthelittlebastardsnitched."

           Jill’slowspiritsseemedtohavegonefasterthanthescatteringnight."Letmetellyou,"shesaidemphatically,"whenyouwanttostagethatsortapartystayawayfromliquor,andwhenyouwanttogettightstayawayfrombedrooms."

           "I’llremember."

           Hetappedsuddenlyattheglassandtheydrewupatthedoorofanall-nightrestaurant.

           "IsAlecagreatfriendofyours?"askedJillastheyperchedthemselvesonhighstoolsinside,andsettheirelbowsonthedingycounter.

           "Heusedtobe.Heprobablywon’twanttobeanymore—andneverunderstandwhy."

           "Itwassortacrazyyoutakin’allthatblame.Isheprettyimportant?Kindamoreimportantthanyouare?"

           Amorylaughed.

           "Thatremainstobeseen,"heanswered."That’sthequestion."

           THECOLLAPSEOFSEVERALPILLARS

           TwodayslaterbackinNewYorkAmoryfoundinanewspaperwhathehadbeensearchingfor—adozenlineswhichannouncedtowhomitmightconcernthatMr