“How could I?”
“I think it’s charming,” Madden answered. “It’s darling of you. I love to have people forget important things. It’s good for your soul.”
She shook her head impatiently, her eyes wet. They were all subdued.
“Take me to a phone,” she said suddenly. “As soon as we get to town I’ll call the office.”
“Don’t worry,” said Harvey, “Flo probably had a brainstorm and called them already. Is she in town today?”
“I don’t know. Well, never mind. Breakfast!”
They came into town with a wild swoop. At the little cafe Gin rushed for the telephone and found that Flo had committed the necessary perjury. She returned radiant to her coffee and fried eggs.
“I’ve been trying to do a poem all night, I think,” Blake was telling Teddy. “I dreamed the beginning of it and added a lot and it was very good. Now I’ve forgotten most of it.” He laughed. “There are just two lines.”
Teddy ordered, “Let’s have them.”
“They’re silly. They don’t mean anything.”