As one often does, she simply refused to think about the unthinkable and blocked the whole thing off in a dark corner of her mind as though it might just go away by wishing. Her vital young body snapped back quickly from the effects of her overindulgence at the party, and on Monday morning she rose early and did the washing and ironing. Then she fixed Ray's lunch. He came upstairs promptly at twelve and ate hurriedly.

"Honey, I've got to go to Knoxville this afternoon," he said, munching the tossed salad she had prepared.

"Knoxville? How come?" A cold chill gripped her.

"Blodgett called… wants me to go to the wholesale house, and then he asked me to run a couple of personal errands for him-stuff for the farm. I'm leaving right away and I should get back by five, that way I can make up any prescriptions that come in."

"I could go with you," she said, "Maybe see a movie or just look around the stores?"

He frowned. "Don't you have a piano lesson?"

"Oh, yes… of course, well," she smiled bravely, "another time."

"Got to run," he pushed his chair back, gave his wife a quick hug and kissed her. Sally watched the car drive away and then, moving like a robot she went to the telephone.

"Mrs. Hearldson? This is Sally Denham. I wonder if Cynthia would mind switching her piano lesson to tomorrow afternoon? Is that convenient?

Then I'll look for her after school tomorrow. Yes, goodbye." She went into the living room and sat down to wait. Crazily, it occurred to her that maybe she ought to dress for the occasion. What did one wear, a negligee… black stockings with lace garters? Oh, God!

Sally never drank in the daytime, but if ever in her life she needed a drink it was now and she went to the kitchen and fixed herself a stiff one. At one-thirty, when she was on her second drink, the doorbell rang … one short, sharp ring. She went down immediately and opened the door.