Dont ; sly, looking pointedly at ;t glove doesnt fit me.”

    Abruptly Alais put o either side of her, blushing furiously.

    quot;I  particularly ; srying to sound casual. t back: quot; glove does fit you, then?”

    t quickly disappeared. t;You do  in you, after all,quot; Catriana said judiciously. quot;I  sure.”

    quot;t,quot; said Alais, moved to a rare anger, quot;is patronizing.  me? And ?”

    Again triana surprised ;Im sorry,quot; s;truly. Im really not very good at t; S;As it  a nerve and I tend to las w occurs.”

    Alaiss anger, as quick to recede as it o kindle, her woman spoke.

    ternly, a guest in her house.

    Se co reply to try to mend t, because just tled importantly into ter ed over tc of Rovigos apprentices oely cast doaining to table by the window.

    tably stirred up irely—bots of it, Alais t. After ts left, the women washed up in silence.

    Alais, stealing a glance at t even more inadequate in e softness and tered life so bed, feeling as if so begin tion over again.

    quot;Good nig; she said.

    quot;Good nig; Catriana replied, after a moment. Alais tried to read an invitation to furtion in one, but s sure. If Catriana ed to talk, so say something.

    t tly in tcoes around t brick Menka  at t of  ruefully t tance to Selvenas side of t.

    Sometime later, still unsleeping to its embers, s of y from tairs. ter somes o ress.  sered and safe. Alais smiled to airs soon after, and go to te rooms.

    S