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even—you.”
    â€œI wanted something big.”
    â€œOh. Now I begin to see.”
    â€œRailroads, coal, copper, things like that, which may have been big once, are all washed up now. Power, steel, oil, automation, things like that would have meant more years in college—MIT, some place like that. So I happened to think of meat. It’s big and has to get bigger—so long as the population keeps increasing and people have to eat.”
    â€œIt begins to make sense now, and is sort of poetic at that. In a rugged, masculine way. This was before, during, or after Lafayette College?”
    â€œDuring. But where did you hear about that?”
    â€œYou were graduated from there, weren’t you?”
    â€œYes, but I didn’t tell Sally.”
    â€œOh, I haven’t discussed you with her .”
    â€œThen how do you know so much?”
    â€œThere’s no mystery. Sally, when she goes somewhere at night, has to be reachable, in case something comes up about Elly. And as I’m sure to be called if she doesn’t answer her phone, she always leaves me a number—usually Bunny Granlund’s or one I’m familiar with. But the other night it was one I didn’t know, and when it happened night after night, I got curious about it and called Information. So once I had your name the rest was ridiculously easy—Fisher’s credit department did me your bio sketch, of course thinking it routine, and not knowing my personal interest. I know your New Jersey origin, which accounts for that drag on your speech, your very elegant drawl, also your swimming career and your great success at Grant’s.”
    â€œNothing scandalous, I hope?”
    â€œNo, it’s all most impressive.”
    â€œLet’s talk about you, Mrs. Simone.”
    He waved her to one of the sofas, then took a seat on the other, facing her. “Meaning,” she said, “get to it? What I came about?”
    â€œWell? What did you come about?”
    â€œI’m not sure I’m going to say, Mr. Lockwood. You’re—not at all what I expected, and I’ve been getting the shakes. Talking and talking—postponing as long as I can. I may have been losing my nerve.”
    â€œI’ll make it easy for you. I think I’ve guessed why you came, so why don’t we—be civilized about it? Go somewhere, have soft crabs on toast or something, maybe wine with bubbles in it—and have our discussion friendly .”
    â€œI don’t understand you at all.”
    â€œYou came to bust it up, so O.K., start busting.”
    â€œTo—bust what up?”
    â€œWhat’s between me and Sally.”
    â€œThen I’m right in suspecting that something is? ”
    â€œNo—that something has been, that’s all.”
    She sat staring, trying to guess what he meant without trying to straighten it out by questions that made her seem stupid. He smiled, said: “You’re very good-looking. I’d enjoy champagne with you. So, if you’re busting it up, then bust.”
    At last getting the point, she asked: “And you think I’d do that? Try to bust it up by cutting in on my little girl? Myself? ”
    â€œIf you’re busting, that’s how it’s done.”
    â€œAnd you, Mr. Lockwood, after seeing her every night, would now start up with me? I’m her mother—I thought I made that clear.”
    â€œInvitation withdrawn. What did you come about?”
    â€œI can say, if permitted.”
    â€œI’ve just been trying to help.”
    â€œI’m not busting it up! I came to egg it on! ”
    She closed her eyes as she said it, as though horribly embarrassed, but pronounced every word distinctly, as though she desperately meant it. He was speechless he was so startled, and sat staring. Then he got up, and after marching around, asked: “ Why? ”
    â€œWell, Sally’s my daughter, isn’t