“I know it. I was born that way.”
“And you never grew up.”
“Physically, yes, unfortunately. Otherwise—I’m fighting to the last ditch. I believe about three of those cookies you make—and, by the way, they’re much better than mother used to manufacture—will fill the void. Don’t you hear that cheeping?” 72
The girl hesitated, disappeared, and returned.
“Thank you, Elice. Sit down over there, please, where I can see you. It makes them taste better. That’s right. Thank you, again. I’m going to pay my bill now by telling you your fortune. You’re going to make a great cook.”
“I wonder,” said the girl, enigmatically.
“There’s no question about it. And for good measure I’m going to retail the latest gossip. What, by the way and as a preliminary, do you suppose I’ve been doing all day?”
“It’s vacation. Fishing, I presume.”
“Stung! I did go fishing this morning—four o’clock, caught one too; but it was so small and innocent looking that I apologized and threw it back. That wasn’t what I referred to, however. You’ll have to guess again.”
“I haven’t the slightest idea.”