He’s no dreamboat himself, she thought resentfully. He’s getting fat and bald and he’s got a sullen mouth.

—But the salary mentioned had been considerably higher than she had expected, so she waited.

Hoskins said, “Now do you really love children?”

“I wouldn’t say I did if I didn’t.”

“Or do you just love pretty children? Nice chubby children with cute little button-noses and gurgly ways?”

Miss Fellowes said, “Children are children, Dr. Hoskins, and the ones that aren’t pretty are just the ones who may happen to need help most.”

“Then suppose we take you on—”

“You mean you’re offering me the job now?”

He smiled briefly, and for a moment, his broad face had an absentminded charm about it. He said, “I make quick decisions. So far the offer is tentative, however. I may make as quick a decision to let you go. Are you ready to take the chance?”

Miss Fellowes clutched at her purse and calculated just as swiftly as she could, then ignored calculations and followed impulse. “All right.”

“Fine. We’re going to form the Stasis tonight and I think you had better be there to take over at once. That will be at 8p.m. and I’dappreciate it if you could be here at 7:30.”

“But what—”

“Fine. Fine. That will be all now.” On signal, a smiling secretary came in to usher her out.

Miss Fellowes stared back at Dr. Hoskins’ closed door for a moment. What was Stasis? What had this large barn of a building—with its badged employees, its makeshift corridors, and its unmistakable air of engineering——todo with children?

She wondered if she should go back that evening or stay away and teach that arrogant man a lesson. But she knew she would be back if only out of sheer frustration. She would have to find out about the children.

She came back at 7:30 and did not have to announce herself. One after another, men and women seemed to know her and to know her function. She found herself all but placed on skids as she was moved inward.