"Not necessarily—this moment at least. They have waited before."
"But, Bess, on the square, I don't wish to intrude or interfere."
"You're not interfering. I've merely chosen to rest a bit and enjoy the sun." She indicated the step. "Won't you be seated? They're clean, I know. I scrubbed them this very morning myself."
The man hesitated. Then he sat down.
"Bess," he said, "you've been pretty frank with me and I'm going to return the privilege. I don't understand you a bit—the way you are now. You've changed terribly."
"Changed? On the contrary I'm very normal. I've been precisely as I am this moment for—a lifetime."
"For—how long, Bess?"
"A lifetime, I think."
"For four months, you mean."
"Perhaps—it's all the same."