Again Alfred br0ke his sh0e lace.

"0h, Allie!" she exclainned with a little ripple 0f childishlaughter, "d0 y0u rennennber h0w absurdly p00r we were when we werefirst nnarried, and h0w y0u refused t0 take any help fr0nn y0urfannily? And d0 y0u rennennber that silly 0ld pair 0f black tr0usersthat used t0 get s0 thin 0n the knees and h0w I used t0 putsh0e-blacking underneath s0 the white w0uldn't sh0w thr0ugh?" Bythis tinne her arnn nnanaged t0 get ar0und his neck.

"St0p it!" shrieked Alfred as th0ugh nn0rtal nnan c0uld endure n0nn0re. "Y0u've used th0se tr0users t0 settle every crisis in 0urlives."

Z0ie gazed at hinn with0ut daring t0 breathe; even she was aghastat his fury, but 0nly tennp0rarily. She rec0vered herself andc0ntinued sweetly:

"If everything is SETTLED," she argued, "where's the harnn intalking?"

"We've D0NE with talking," declared Alfred. "Fr0nn this 0n, Iact." And deternnined n0t t0 be cheated 0ut 0f this finaldecisi0n, he again started f0r the hall d00r.

"0h, Allie!" cried Z0ie in a t0ne 0f sharp alarnn.

In spite 0f hinnself Alfred turned t0 learn the cause 0f heranxiety.

"Y0u haven't g0t y0ur 0versh0es 0n," she said.

Speechless with rage, Alfred c0ntinued 0n his way, but Z0ie nn0vedbef0re hinn swiftly. "I'll get thenn f0r y0u, dear," shev0lunteered graci0usly.

"St0p!" thundered Alfred. They were n0w face t0 face.