magpie, though I can’t understand nineteen out of every twenty words.”
“Maybe she’s speaking magpie,” Keith said. Marcy’s great with her. Holl saw her cradle the little one with an expression of hungry yearning.
“Aye, it wouldn’t surprise me about my little sprite.… I wonder how long she and Enoch will wait to have their own babes.” The Big student beside him nodded, knowing Holl wasn’t talking about Asrai.
Holl was sorry for Enoch, even as he rejoiced that his enigmatic brother-in-law had found the lifemate of his heart. The Big Ones did not live as long as his kind. Still, as Shakespeare put it so well, t’was better to have loved and lost.… Marcy was a good addition to the village, whatever protests her family and the Conservatives might put forward. She fit inwell with the personalities, some of whom were strident and difficult enough that even their relatives found them trying. She was biddable but not easily pushed when she chose to stand her ground, took instruction, had a scholarly mind and a sense of humor, though very gentle, and liked a good discussion. It was sad that her family wasn’t taking her romance seriously. He couldn’t have borne that himself, though that was just the opposite of his own life, where everything he did was taken too seriously indeed. But he’d always been taken a mite too seriously, perhaps. A more pompous soul would have taken advantage of that. Holl grinned. He’d been pompous enough with Keith Doyle, but the boy did invite it, acting as foolishly as a colt.
“I don’t think it’ll be too long,” Keith said, watching Marcy dandle the child, who was so small in proportion to her. “But I know her: not until they get married. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her folks yet, but I’ll have plenty of opportunities now that I’ll be up there most of the week. I’ll be in at PDQ full time, for now. I’ve arranged to move into the Crash Site with Pat and Dunn. Poor Pat thought he’d gotten rid of me, but at least I can take on part of the rent and lift the burden off Dunn and his venture capital.”
“That’s a very heavy schedule,” Maura said sympathetically. She came over to show Holl the fabric for baby clothes. “Are you sure you can do it?”
“Oh, yeah,” Keith said, blithely. “I’ve got it all worked out. Dunn’s working on this voice-recognition software that ignores exterior noise. I’m testing it for him in my car—you know what kind of a rumble my engine makes. So far it’s terrific. I can do my homework while I drive. If I install it in your computer or Diane’s I can print out at either end of my trip. It’s perfect. No down time. Chicago on weekdays, college on weekends. See, everything’s under control.”
“And where will you live on these weekends?” Maura asked. “You are giving up your rooms here to pay for your share of the apartment.”
Holl had to laugh at the stricken look on Keith’s face. “You can stay here, widdy. We’ll find a bed for those long shanks of yours.”
“Thanks,” Keith said, wiping imaginary sweat off his face. “I thought for a moment I was going to have to ask Diane for the use of her couch. She’s not going to be happy with the situation anyhow.”
“I applaud you, Keith Doyle, but the lovely Diane is not going to like the change.”
Keith smacked himself in the forehead. “I forgot to call her.” He took the blue-green cell telephone out of his pocket.
“No, use our phone,” Holl insisted. “A local call will surely be less costly than your per-minute charge. The Internet banner ads are full of details about them. It is a costly indulgence that in this case is unnecessary.”
“Thanks,” Keith said, hoisting himself to his feet. He brushed an accumulation of sawdust off his front and backside. “You have got to see Doris, Holl. It’s amazing.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Holl said. “In the meantime, keep it to yourself.”
* * *
But Keith found
“Maybe she’s speaking magpie,” Keith said. Marcy’s great with her. Holl saw her cradle the little one with an expression of hungry yearning.
“Aye, it wouldn’t surprise me about my little sprite.… I wonder how long she and Enoch will wait to have their own babes.” The Big student beside him nodded, knowing Holl wasn’t talking about Asrai.
Holl was sorry for Enoch, even as he rejoiced that his enigmatic brother-in-law had found the lifemate of his heart. The Big Ones did not live as long as his kind. Still, as Shakespeare put it so well, t’was better to have loved and lost.… Marcy was a good addition to the village, whatever protests her family and the Conservatives might put forward. She fit inwell with the personalities, some of whom were strident and difficult enough that even their relatives found them trying. She was biddable but not easily pushed when she chose to stand her ground, took instruction, had a scholarly mind and a sense of humor, though very gentle, and liked a good discussion. It was sad that her family wasn’t taking her romance seriously. He couldn’t have borne that himself, though that was just the opposite of his own life, where everything he did was taken too seriously indeed. But he’d always been taken a mite too seriously, perhaps. A more pompous soul would have taken advantage of that. Holl grinned. He’d been pompous enough with Keith Doyle, but the boy did invite it, acting as foolishly as a colt.
“I don’t think it’ll be too long,” Keith said, watching Marcy dandle the child, who was so small in proportion to her. “But I know her: not until they get married. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her folks yet, but I’ll have plenty of opportunities now that I’ll be up there most of the week. I’ll be in at PDQ full time, for now. I’ve arranged to move into the Crash Site with Pat and Dunn. Poor Pat thought he’d gotten rid of me, but at least I can take on part of the rent and lift the burden off Dunn and his venture capital.”
“That’s a very heavy schedule,” Maura said sympathetically. She came over to show Holl the fabric for baby clothes. “Are you sure you can do it?”
“Oh, yeah,” Keith said, blithely. “I’ve got it all worked out. Dunn’s working on this voice-recognition software that ignores exterior noise. I’m testing it for him in my car—you know what kind of a rumble my engine makes. So far it’s terrific. I can do my homework while I drive. If I install it in your computer or Diane’s I can print out at either end of my trip. It’s perfect. No down time. Chicago on weekdays, college on weekends. See, everything’s under control.”
“And where will you live on these weekends?” Maura asked. “You are giving up your rooms here to pay for your share of the apartment.”
Holl had to laugh at the stricken look on Keith’s face. “You can stay here, widdy. We’ll find a bed for those long shanks of yours.”
“Thanks,” Keith said, wiping imaginary sweat off his face. “I thought for a moment I was going to have to ask Diane for the use of her couch. She’s not going to be happy with the situation anyhow.”
“I applaud you, Keith Doyle, but the lovely Diane is not going to like the change.”
Keith smacked himself in the forehead. “I forgot to call her.” He took the blue-green cell telephone out of his pocket.
“No, use our phone,” Holl insisted. “A local call will surely be less costly than your per-minute charge. The Internet banner ads are full of details about them. It is a costly indulgence that in this case is unnecessary.”
“Thanks,” Keith said, hoisting himself to his feet. He brushed an accumulation of sawdust off his front and backside. “You have got to see Doris, Holl. It’s amazing.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Holl said. “In the meantime, keep it to yourself.”
* * *
But Keith found
Similar Books
