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lovely peeress who had seemingly intruded on the group, but for once she did not smile. into her eyes, and asked, “And this is your absolute decision, Aleva? In the event you did not return, there would be nothing that you, and you only, felt would have been taken with you and lost to us forever?” “No, Saturn,” she responded. “Nothing would be left behind me that would be so unfinished another could not finish it. I am fully ready for either the beginning or the end.” Launie dropped her head into her arms on the table and sobbed somewhat convulsively. Adam would have rushed to comfort her, but he knew not what was going on and something within him held him back, to listen further and receive perhaps the solution to what was being hinted, or was about to transpire. Also, he felt that Launie had no need of comfort from an amateur such as he, and once more he felt his inferior stature in the presence of these 1 people. In his dejected state this exquisite woman, Aleva, stood looking into Adam’s eyes with such self-sure poise that he could not help but feel he had always known her, if only by some common chord she struck within him. She was warm, understanding, somewhat aggressive, feminine; and so wel-comely overcoming that even Launie gradually faded in Adam’s “undying” esteem. Yet he knew in this moment that he could love Launie in a way he could not 1 wre , 11 sad day, but how could Aleva come down to absorb the manly love, limited though it might be, that Adam was capable of? No, indeed. She was more aloof in that regard than Lyra. _ By now Adam looked tired and worn. Launie could see that as 1 1 te 1 eww a 1 hurrying off, returning once more with a tall glass of nectar which she proffered to Adam. He took two sips and set the glass back on the table. He grimaced a little, even though it was delicious. Somehow it tasted different from all the 175 THE EASE OF FORGETTING Saturn once more examined the written information, looked up Lo ott ee tae yo. tee love this one. Launie could meet Adam on his own level some she raised her head from her folded arms. She arose and went other potions of nectar he had drunk. Launie told him