"That wasn't a little while ago," she said.
"Certainly it was. This winter."
"It couldn't have been later than November," she went on slowly, "for I haven't touched a cigarette since then."
"Good girl." Mr. Fabian patted her shoulder. "It disgusted me to see you. You'll never do it again?"
"No." She shook her head, and carefully ran her finger through a ring of smoke as it passed her.
"I wish I could get Edgar to say the same," remarked Mr. Fabian.
"You don't set him a good example," she returned.
"You never saw me with a cigarette. Edgar has to abstain from them in the office, but I think he sits up all night to make up for it. I have an idea they contribute to his general uselessness."
Kathleen smoothed the care-worn lines in the speaker's brow with her gentle fingers. He loved their touch.
"I think Edgar isn't smoking much these days," she said.