The thought of being transferred by the Economy Agent to Assigned Duty Status, with its virtual imprisonment to monotony by the Welfare Office, made Jeb tumble from bed and fumble for his shoes.
"My darling," he said placatingly, "how beautiful you are this morning! How undeserving I am of you!"
"You're damn right about that," said Laurie with bitterness. "When I think of the men I could have married, the wonderful life I might have lived, instead of scrimping along with a no-good freelance Monitor like you...."
"Sometimes I do pretty well. Three years ago, I sent you to the Pleasure Palace for a month, remember?"
"Three years ago. Big deal."
She flounced out of the room. Sadly, Jeb went to the closet and examined the various uniforms and disguises that were part of his equipment as a freelance Monitor. As he selected the silver and black skintight suit of an Air Pollution Inspector, he wistfully remembered how nice it had been when Laurie had smiled at him. Immediately a flood of determination filled him to go out and do big things today. Maybe he would make a big strike and get a nice fat commission; then Laurie would....
The televisor buzzed, flickered, and the genial face of the man from Marriage Relations appeared.
"Good morning, Monitor Jeb," said the man, smiling. "And how are things 'twixt you and your beloved?"
"Rough," moaned Jeb. "She's really in a foul mood today."