It/pps was/bedz among/in these/dts that/cs Hinkle/np identified/vbd a/at photograph/nn of/in Barco/np !/. !/.
For/cs it/pps seems/vbz that/cs Barco/np ,/, fancying/vbg himself/ppl a/at ladies'/nns$ man/nn (/( and/cc why/wrb not/* ,/, after/in seven/cd marriages/nns ?/. ?/.
)/) ,/, had/hvd listed/vbn himself/ppl for/in Mormon/np-tl Beard/nn-tl roles/nns at/in the/at instigation/nn of/in his/pp$ fourth/od murder/nn victim/nn who/wps had/hvd said/vbn :/: ``/`` With/in your/pp$ beard/nn ,/, dear/jj ,/, you/ppss ought/md to/to be/be in/in movies/nns ''/'' !/. !/.


	Mills/np secured/vbd Barco's/np$ photograph/nn from/in the/at gentleman/nn in/in charge/nn ,/, rushed/vbd to/in the/at Hollywood/np police/nn station/nn to/to report/vb the/at theft/nn ,/, and/cc less/ap than/in five/cd minutes/nns later/rbr ,/, detectives/nns with/in his/pp$ picture/nn in/in hand/nn were/bed on/in the/at trail/nn of/in Cal/np Barco/np ./.


	On/in their/pp$ way/nn ,/, they/ppss stopped/vbd at/in every/at gas/nn station/nn along/in the/at main/nn boulevards/nns to/to question/vb the/at attendants/nns ./.
Finally/rb ,/, at/in Ye/at-tl Olde/jj Gasse/nn-tl Filling/vbg-tl Station/nn-tl on/in Avocado/nn-tl Avenue/nn-tl ,/, they/ppss learned/vbd that/cs their/pp$ man/nn ,/, having/hvg paused/vbn to/to get/vb oil/nn for/in his/pp$ car/nn ,/, had/hvd asked/vbn about/in the/at route/nn to/in San/np Diego/np ./.
They/ppss headed/vbd in/in that/dt direction/nn and/cc ,/, at/in San/np Juan/np Capistrano/np By-the-Sea/np came/vbd upon/in Barco/np sitting/vbg in/in the/at quaint/jj old/jj Spanish/jj-tl Mission/nn-tl Drive-in/nn-tl ,/, eating/vbg a/at hot/jj tamale/nn ./.
At/in the/at moment/nn ,/, Barco's/np$ back/nn was/bedz to/in the/at road/nn so/cs he/pps didn't/dod* see/vb the/at detectives/nns close/vb in/rp on/in his/pp$ convertible/nn which/wdt ,/, in/in their/pp$ quest/nn for/in the/at stolen/vbn lap/nn rug/nn ,/, they/ppss proceeded/vbd to/to search/vb ./.
The/at robe/nn ,/, however/wrb ,/, was/bedz missing/vbg ,/, for/cs by/in that/dt time/nn Barco/np had/hvd disposed/vbn of/in it/ppo at/in a/at pawnshop/nn in/in Glendale/np ./.


	The/at detectives/nns placed/vbd Barco/np under/in arrest/nn and/cc ,/, without/in informing/vbg him/ppo of/in the/at nature/nn of/in the/at charge/nn ,/, took/vbd him/ppo back/rb to/in Hollywood/np for/in questioning/vbg ./.


	Thus/rb it/pps was/bedz that/cs Barco/np ,/, apprehended/vbn for/in mere/jj larceny/nn ,/, now/rb began/vbd to/to suspect/vb that/cs one/pn or/cc another/dt of/in his/pp$ murders/nns had/hvd been/ben uncovered/vbn ./.
During/in the/at return/nn trip/nn ,/, Barco/np kept/vbd muttering/vbg to/in himself/ppl in/in meaningless/jj phrases/nns ,/, such/jj as/cs :/: ``/`` They're/ppss+ber under/in sand/nn dunes/nns They're/ppss+ber better/rbr off/rp ,/, I/ppss tell/vb you/ppo I/ppss saved/vbd their/pp$ souls/nns ''/'' ./.
The/at detective/nn ,/, commenting/vbg on/in Barco's/np$ behavior/nn ,/, felt/vbd that/cs he/pps merely/rb belonged/vbd among/in the/at myriad/jj citizens/nns of/in our/pp$ community/nn who/wps are/ber mentally/rb unhinged/vbn --/-- that/cs he/pps was/bedz a/at more/ql or/cc less/ql harmless/jj ``/`` nut/nn ''/'' !/. !/.


	However/wrb while/cs in/in his/pp$ cell/nn awaiting/vbg trial/nn for/in theft/nn ,/, Barco/np ,/, in/in a/at fit/nn of/in apprehension/nn ,/, made/vbd an/at attempt/nn to/to take/vb his/pp$ own/jj life/nn ./.
The/at attempt/nn had/hvd failed/vbn because/cs ,/, when/wrb endeavoring/vbg to/to cut/vb his/pp$ wrists/nns ,/, this/dt murderer/nn of/in seven/cd women/nns had/hvd fainted/vbn at/in the/at sight/nn of/in blood/nn ./.
The/at jail/nn authorities/nns --/-- attaching/vbg no/at particular/jj significance/nn to/in the/at episode/nn --/-- offered/vbd Barco/np whisky/nn to/to revive/vb him/ppo ;/. ;/.
but/cc the/at old/jj fellow/nn ,/, a/at lifelong/jj teetotaler/nn ,/, refused/vbd it/ppo ,/, and/cc no/at more/ap was/bedz thought/vbn of/in the/at matter/nn ./.


	Then/rb it/pps was/bedz that/cs District/nn-tl Attorney/nn-tl Welch/np entered/vbd the/at case/nn ./.
A/at man/nn of/in vaulting/vbg ambition/nn ,/, with/in one/cd eye/nn on/in the/at mayorship/nn of/in Los/np Angeles/np ,/, nothing/pn ever/rb escaped/vbd him/ppo which/wdt might/md possibly/rb lead/vb to/in personal/jj publicity/nn ./.


	It/pps was/bedz reported/vbn to/in Welch's/np$ office/nn that/cs a/at thief/nn in/in the/at city/nn jail/nn had/hvd attempted/vbn suicide/nn ./.
Welch/np wanted/vbd to/to know/vb why/wrb ./.
No/at one/pn knew/vbd ./.
Now/rb Welch/np had/hvd a/at pet/nn theory/nn that/cs everyone/pn is/bez guilty/jj of/in breaking/vbg more/ap laws/nns than/cs he/pps ever/rb gets/vbz caught/vbn at/in ./.
The/at suicide/nn attempt/nn looked/vbd to/in him/ppo like/cs an/at opportunity/nn to/to put/vb his/pp$ theory/nn to/in the/at test/nn ./.
So/cs he/pps paid/vbd a/at call/nn on/in Barco/np in/in his/pp$ cell/nn and/cc began/vbd their/pp$ chat/nn by/in stating/vbg bluntly/rb :/: 

	``/`` Barco/np ,/, we've/ppss+hv got/vbn the/at goods/nns on/in you/ppo !/. !/.
It'll/pps+md be/be a/at lot/nn better/jjr if/cs you/ppss come/vb clean/rb ''/'' ./.


	At/in first/rb Barco/np was/bedz evasive/jj and/cc shifty/jj ./.
But/cc with/in Welch's/np$ relentless/jj pursuit/nn of/in the/at subject/nn ,/, Barco/np finally/rb ``/`` broke/vbd ''/'' and/cc started/vbd confessing/vbg to/in one/cd murder/nn after/in another/dt ./.
By/in the/at time/nn Barco/np reached/vbd the/at count/nn of/in three/cd ,/, the/at situation/nn seemed/vbd to/in Welch/np almost/ql too/ql good/jj to/to be/be true/jj ./.
But/cc if/cs true/jj ,/, it/pps was/bedz the/at case/nn of/in which/wdt he/pps had/hvd dreamed/vbn ,/, the/at case/nn which/wdt would/md throw/vb him/ppo into/in headlines/nns all/abn over/in America/np as/cs the/at hero/nn of/in a/at great/jj murder/nn trial/nn ./.


	Welch/np summoned/vbd jail/nn officials/nns to/in Barco's/np$ cell/nn ./.
But/cc to/in Welch's/np$ chagrin/nn ,/, the/at police/nn captain/nn pooh-poohed/vbd Welch's/np$ credulity/nn in/in Barco's/np$ confession/nn ./.
Barco/np was/bedz clearly/rb a/at ``/`` nut/nn ''/'' ./.
It/pps required/vbd strength/nn ,/, bravado/nn ,/, daring/vbg to/to commit/vb murder/nn ./.
``/`` That/dt worm/nn a/at murderer/nn ?/. ?/.
Ridiculous/jj ''/'' !/. !/.
Then/rb ,/, for/in the/at first/od time/nn since/in his/pp$ arrest/nn ,/, a/at glint/nn of/in spirit/nn lit/vbd Barco's/np$ eyes/nns ./.
His/pp$ manhood/nn had/hvd been/ben attacked/vbn ./.
He/pps stiffened/vbd and/cc rose/vbd to/in his/pp$ feet/nns ./.
He'd/pps+md show/vb them/ppo !/. !/.


	``/`` Is/bez that/dt so/rb ''/'' ?/. ?/.
He/pps queried/vbd ./.
``/`` Well/uh ,/, for/in ten/cd years/nns I've/ppss+hv been/ben murdering/vbg women/nns ./.
I/ppss can/md lead/vb you/ppo to/in every/at one/pn of/in the/at bodies/nns ,/, and/cc there/ex ain't/ber* four/cd ,/, nor/cc five/cd ,/, nor/cc six/cd of/in 'em/ppo --/-- there's/ex+bez seven/cd !/. !/.
''/'' 

	The/at next/ap day/nn the/at police/nn captain/nn ,/, in/in derision/nn ,/, organized/vbd what/wdt he/pps termed/vbd ``/`` Welch's/np$-tl Wild/jj-tl Goose/nn-tl Chase/nn-tl ''/'' ./.
For/cs indeed/rb it/pps seemed/vbd incredible/jj that/cs anyone/pn could/md go/vb on/rp committing/vbg murder/nn for/in ten/cd years/nns and/cc not/* get/vb caught/vbn at/in it/ppo ,/, even/rb in/in Hollywood/np ./.
The/at searching/vbg party/nn consisted/vbd of/in the/at police/nn captain/nn ,/, Welch/np ,/, Barco/np ,/, policemen/nns with/in shovels/nns ,/, newspaper/nn reporters/nns ,/, and/cc cameramen/nns ./.


	Barco/np ,/, his/pp$ state/nn of/in apprehension/nn gone/vbn ,/, never/rb to/to return/vb ,/, had/hvd assumed/vbn a/at matter-of-factness/nn which/wdt remained/vbd his/pp$ principal/jjs attitude/nn from/in that/dt time/nn on/rp ./.
He/pps directed/vbd the/at cortege/nn of/in autos/nns to/in the/at sand/nn dunes/nns near/in Santa/np Monica/np ./.
Stopping/vbg the/at cars/nns at/in a/at fork/nn in/in the/at road/nn ,/, he/pps got/vbd out/rp ,/, paced/vbd off/rp a/at certain/jj distance/nn to/in a/at spot/nn between/in two/cd shrub-covered/jj sand/nn hills/nns ,/, and/cc indicated/vbd a/at location/nn ./.


	Orders/nns were/bed given/vbn to/to dig/vb ./.
Nothing/pn was/bedz found/vbn ./.
Welch/np was/bedz worried/vbn ./.
The/at police/nn captain/nn chortled/vbd ./.
The/at newspaper/nn boys/nns cracked/vbd jokes/nns and/cc again/rb Barco's/np$ pride/nn was/bedz aroused/vbn ./.
With/in greater/jjr precision/nn he/pps again/rb paced/vbd off/rp a/at location/nn ,/, this/dt time/nn a/at little/ql more/rbr to/in the/at left/nr ./.


	With/in quibs/nns and/cc gibes/nns ,/, the/at policemen/nns again/rb started/vbd digging/vbg ./.
Welch/np was/bedz on/in edge/nn ./.
The/at captain/nn was/bedz remarking/vbg that/cs it/pps was/bedz a/at nice/jj day/nn for/in a/at picnic/nn when/wrb finally/rb one/cd of/in the/at shovels/nns struck/vbd an/at object/nn ./.


	``/`` There's/ex+bez something/pn here/rb ''/'' !/. !/.
Said/vbd the/at digger/nn ./.
Joking/vbg stopped/vbd and/cc everyone/pn gathered/vbd around/rb ./.
The/at digger/nn ,/, thrusting/vbg about/rb with/in his/pp$ shovel/nn ,/, now/rb raised/vbd into/in view/nn a/at package/nn crudely/rb wrapped/vbn in/in one/cd of/in the/at murderer's/nn$ Hollywood/np sport/nn shirts/nns ./.
Although/cs it/pps was/bedz a/at mere/jj fragment/nn of/in the/at victim's/nn$ remains/nns ,/, it/pps was/bedz enough/ap ./.
Welch/np was/bedz wild/jj with/in delight/nn ./.
His/pp$ elation/nn grew/vbd as/cs Barco's/np$ seven/cd disclosures/nns brought/vbd to/in light/nn one/cd reward/nn after/in another/dt ./.


	Now/rb did/dod Welch/np truly/rb become/vb the/at man/nn of/in the/at hour/nn ,/, and/cc everything/pn that/cs followed/vbd in/in the/at procedure/nn of/in Justice/nn-tl was/bedz a/at new/jj triumph/nn for/in him/ppo ./.
It/pps went/vbd to/in his/pp$ head/nn ,/, and/cc his/pp$ ambition/nn increased/vbd ./.


	It/pps was/bedz apparent/jj that/cs Welch/np was/bedz in/in cahoots/nns with/in Marshall/np and/cc would/md use/vb his/pp$ power/nn as/cs D.A./np to/to drag/vb every/at possible/jj sensation/nn into/in the/at case/nn ./.
Every/at new/jj scandal/nn which/wdt would/md provide/vb more/ap ``/`` copy/nn ''/'' for/in Marshall's/np$ pen/nn would/md thus/rb mean/vb more/ap publicity/nn for/in Welch/np ./.


	I/ppss knew/vbd that/cs both/abx these/dts cynics/nns were/bed waiting/vbg with/in impatience/nn for/in the/at dramatic/jj moment/nn when/wrb Viola/np was/bedz called/vbn to/in the/at stand/nn ./.
Once/rb there/rb ,/, the/at D.A./np with/in devilish/jj cleverness/nn would/md provide/vb Marshall/np with/in headlines/nns :/: ``/`` Viola's/np$-hl Multiple/jj-hl Romances/nns-hl ''/'' ``/`` Viola/np-hl Lake/np-hl an/at-hl Addict/nn-hl ''/'' ``/`` Downfall/nn-hl of/in-hl Another/dt-hl Film/nn-hl Idol/nn-hl ''/'' !/. !/.
It/pps would/md be/be fine/jj publicity/nn for/in the/at man/nn who/wps was/bedz willing/jj to/to walk/vb to/in the/at mayor's/nn$ throne/nn over/in the/at broken/vbn reputation/nn of/in a/at helpless/jj girl/nn !/. !/.


	I/ppss studied/vbd Welch/np closely/rb as/cs the/at trial/nn progressed/vbd for/in any/dti hint/nn which/wdt might/md give/vb me/ppo a/at lead/nn as/in to/in how/wrb he/pps might/md be/be thwarted/vbn ./.
It/pps wasn't/bedz* long/jj before/cs I/ppss sensed/vbd that/cs there/ex was/bedz something/pn deeper/jjr than/in overvaulting/jj ambition/nn back/rb of/in his/pp$ desire/nn for/in Viola's/np$ destruction/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz bitter/jj and/cc resentful/jj toward/in her/ppo ,/, personally/rb resentful/jj ./.
A/at dreadful/jj fear/nn entered/vbd my/pp$ consciousness/nn that/cs perhaps/rb he/pps had/hvd entertained/vbn aspirations/nns toward/in Viola's/np$ favors/nns --/-- or/cc ,/, even/rb more/ql serious/jj perhaps/rb ,/, that/cs he/pps had/hvd attained/vbn a/at share/nn of/in them/ppo and/cc had/hvd then/rb been/ben superseded/vbn by/in some/dti luckier/jjr chap/nn ./.
I/ppss did/dod not/* rest/vb until/cs I/ppss had/hvd tracked/vbn the/at mystery/nn down/rp ./.
Well/uh ,/, here/rb it/pps is/bez ./.


	One/cd day/nn over/in a/at year/nn before/rb ,/, there/ex had/hvd been/ben a/at cocktail/nn party/nn in/in an/at apartment/nn of/in a/at downtown/nr hotel/nn ./.
Viola/np had/hvd been/ben urged/vbn to/to attend/vb ,/, by/in telephone/nn ,/, and/cc not/* knowing/vbg the/at host/nn or/cc the/at character/nn of/in the/at party/nn ,/, she/pps had/hvd gone/vbn ./.
She/pps arrived/vbd late/rb and/cc as/cs she/pps entered/vbd the/at party/nn ,/, noted/vbd that/cs gentlemen/nns seemed/vbd to/to be/be in/in the/at majority/nn ;/. ;/.
the/at air/nn was/bedz thick/jj with/in smoke/nn ,/, empty/jj bottles/nns were/bed in/in evidence/nn ,/, and/cc several/ap of/in the/at guests/nns were/bed somewhat/rb the/at worse/jjr for/in liquor/nn ./.


	Naturally/rb ,/, Viola/np had/hvd no/at wish/nn to/to remain/vb ,/, but/cc she/pps felt/vbd she/pps couldn't/md* leave/vb so/ql soon/rb after/in her/pp$ arrival/nn ,/, in/in all/abn politeness/nn to/to her/pp$ host/nn ./.
And/cc it/pps so/ql happened/vbd that/cs adjacent/jj to/in a/at couch/nn on/in which/wdt she/pps had/hvd taken/vbn refuge/nn was/bedz a/at small/jj table/nn on/in which/wdt she/pps noted/vbd a/at vase/nn of/in red/jj rosebuds/nns ;/. ;/.
while/cs projecting/vbg from/in beneath/in the/at couch/nn were/bed a/at pair/nn of/in feet/nns which/wdt ,/, as/cs Fate/nn-tl would/md have/hv it/ppo ,/, belonged/vbd to/in District/nn-tl Attorney/nn-tl Welch/np ./.


	As/cs Viola/np sat/vbd there/rb ,/, a/at playful/jj impulse/nn overcame/vbd her/ppo to/to remove/vb the/at shoes/nns and/cc socks/nns from/in the/at unidentified/jj feet/nns and/cc ,/, as/cs a/at prank/nn ,/, insert/vb rosebuds/nns between/in the/at toes/nns ./.


	A/at little/ap later/rbr the/at district/nn attorney/nn woke/vbd up/rp ,/, emerged/vbd from/in under/in the/at couch/nn ,/, looked/vbd at/in his/pp$ watch/nn ,/, and/cc realized/vbd he/pps had/hvd an/at engagement/nn that/dt very/ap hour/nn to/to address/vb a/at meeting/nn of/in the/at Culture/nn-tl Forum/nn-tl on/in ``/`` The/at-tl Civic/jj-tl Spirit/nn-tl of/in-tl the/at-tl Southland/np-tl ''/'' ,/, in/in the/at Byzantine/jj room/nn of/in the/at hotel/nn where/wrb his/pp$ wife/nn ,/, as/cs president/nn of/in the/at forum/nn ,/, was/bedz to/to preside/vb ./.
He/pps made/vbd his/pp$ way/nn to/in his/pp$ host's/nn$ bedroom/nn where/wrb he/pps carefully/rb brushed/vbd himself/ppl off/rp ,/, neatly/rb arranged/vbd his/pp$ hair/nn ,/, and/cc painstakingly/rb selected/vbd his/pp$ hat/nn from/in the/at many/ap on/in the/at bed/nn ./.
Then/rb ,/, noting/vbg neither/cc the/at absence/nn of/in his/pp$ footwear/nn nor/cc the/at presence/nn of/in the/at rosebuds/nns ,/, he/pps made/vbd his/pp$ way/nn to/in the/at Byzantine/jj room/nn and/cc ,/, with/in his/pp$ usual/jj dignity/nn ,/, mounted/vbd the/at rostrum/nn ./.
The/at effect/nn on/in the/at intellectuals/nns among/in his/pp$ audience/nn may/md well/rb be/be imagined/vbn ./.


	The/at incident/nn ,/, aside/rb from/in reflecting/vbg on/in Welch's/np$ political/jj career/nn ,/, had/hvd all/abn but/in wrecked/vbn his/pp$ home/nr life/nn ./.
He/pps never/rb rested/vbd until/cs he/pps discovered/vbd who/wps the/at culprit/nn was/bedz ,/, and/cc when/wrb he/pps did/dod ,/, he/pps vowed/vbd vengeance/nn on/in Viola/np Lake/np if/cs ever/rb the/at chance/nn came/vbd his/pp$ way/nn ./.
And/cc here/rb it/pps was/bedz !/. !/.
By/in such/jj innocent/jj actions/nns are/ber human/jj tragedies/nns sometimes/rb set/vbn in/in motion/nn ./.


	During/in these/dts first/od days/nns of/in the/at trial/nn I/ppss didn't/dod* have/hv as/ql much/ap time/nn to/to commiserate/vb with/in Viola/np as/cs I/ppss should/md have/hv liked/vbn ./.
In/in the/at first/od place/nn ,/, it/pps was/bedz difficult/jj for/in us/ppo to/to meet/vb ./.
We/ppss couldn't/md* be/be seen/vbn together/rb ,/, for/in the/at tongue/nn of/in Scandal/nn-tl was/bedz ever/rb ready/jj to/to link/vb our/pp$ names/nns ,/, and/cc the/at tongue/nn of/in Scandal/nn-tl finds/vbz but/cc one/cd thing/nn to/to say/vb of/in the/at association/nn of/in a/at man/nn with/in a/at girl/nn ,/, no/at matter/nn how/ql innocent/jj ./.
I/ppss couldn't/md* invite/vb Viola/np to/in our/pp$ house/nn ,/, for/cs Mother/nn-tl snobbishly/rb refused/vbd to/to receive/vb her/ppo ./.


	Now/rb the/at Czarship/nn-tl had/hvd not/* affected/vbn my/pp$ own/jj sense/nn of/in social/jj values/nns ,/, but/cc Mother/nn-tl had/hvd attained/vbn a/at reflected/vbn glory/nn through/in it/ppo ,/, which/wdt had/hvd opened/vbn the/at doors/nns of/in Los/np-tl Angeles-Pasadena/np-tl Society/nn-tl to/in her/ppo ./.
There/rb ,/, Mother/nn-tl was/bedz received/vbn by/in the/at scions/nns of/in aristocratic/jj lines/nns which/wdt are/ber dominated/vbn by/in the/at Budweisers/nps (/( of/in beer/nn derivation/nn )/) ,/, the/at Chalmers/nps (/( of/in underwear/nn origin/nn )/) ,/, and/cc the/at Heinzes/nps (/( whose/wp$ forbears/nns founded/vbd a/at nationally/rb famous/jj trade/nn in/in pickles/nns )/) ./.
I/ppss hated/vbd being/beg dragged/vbn into/in the/at salons/nns of/in these/dts aristocrats/nns ./.
But/cc Mother/nn-tl insisted/vbd ,/, for/cs it/pps is/bez seldom/rb indeed/qlp that/cs anyone/pn remotely/rb connected/vbn with/in the/at cinema/nn is/bez ever/rb received/vbn in/in their/pp$ exclusive/jj midsts/nns ./.
In/in fact/nn ,/, it/pps was/bedz not/* until/cs the/at King/nn-tl of/in-tl Spain/np-tl had/hvd visited/vbn at/in Pickfair/np that/cs Mary/np and/cc Doug/np were/bed beckoned/vbn to/to cross/vb the/at sacred/jj barriers/nns which/wdt separate/vb Los/np Angeles/np and/cc Pasadena/np from/in the/at hoi-polloi/fw-nns ./.


	Mother/nn-tl even/rb went/vbd so/ql far/rb as/in to/to trump/vb up/rp for/in me/ppo matrimonial/jj opportunities/nns with/in Pasadena/np debs/nns who/wps had/hvd been/ben educated/vbn abroad/rb ,/, and/cc with/in those/dts of/in the/at more/ql lenient/jj Los/np Angeles/np area/nn where/wrb a/at debutante/nn was/bedz a/at girl/nn who/wps had/hvd been/ben to/in high/jj school/nn ./.
But/cc at/in long/jj last/ap came/vbd a/at time/nn when/wrb I/ppss broke/vbd away/rb from/in Mother/nn-tl and/cc her/pp$ society/nn ``/`` chi-chi/nn ''/'' in/in order/nn to/to spend/vb a/at cosy/jj evening/nn with/in Viola/np and/cc her/pp$ chaperon/nn at/in her/pp$ home/nr ./.


	However/wrb ,/, such/abl a/at hotbed/nn of/in gossip/nn had/hvd grown/vbn up/rp during/in the/at trial/nn ,/, that/cs every/at precaution/nn had/hvd to/to be/be taken/vbn to/to keep/vb my/pp$ visit/nn from/in being/beg whispered/vbn to/in the/at world/nn ,/, Society/nn ,/, and/cc even/rb ,/, alas/uh ,/, to/in my/pp$ own/jj mother/nn ./.


	When/wrb I/ppss arrived/vbd at/in Viola's/np$ I/ppss was/bedz shown/vbn ,/, to/in my/pp$ surprise/nn ,/, into/in the/at kitchen/nn ./.
Viola/np greeted/vbd me/ppo ,/, in/in checked/vbn apron/nn ,/, ladle/nn in/in hand/nn ,/, and/cc explained/vbd it/pps was/bedz the/at cook's/nn$ night/nn out/rp and/cc that/cs she/pps herself/ppl was/bedz preparing/vbg dinner/nn ./.


	I/ppss sat/vbd and/cc watched/vbd proceedings/nns ./.
There/ex was/bedz to/to be/be roast/vbn chicken/nn with/in dressing/nn ,/, giblet/nn gravy/nn ,/, asparagus/nn ,/, new/jj peas/nns with/in a/at sprig/nn of/in mint/nn ,/, creamed/vbn onions/nns ,/, and/cc mashed/vbn potatoes/nns --/-- all/ql chosen/vbn ,/, prepared/vbn ,/, and/cc cooked/vbn by/in Viola/np herself/ppl ./.

I/ppss realized/vbd that/cs Hamlet/np was/bedz faced/vbn with/in an/at entirely/ql different/jj problem/nn ,/, but/cc his/pp$ agony/nn could/md have/hv been/ben no/at greater/jjr ./.
The/at most/ap that/dt was/bedz accomplished/vbn was/bedz adding/vbg Mrs./np Beige's/np$ tray/nn to/in the/at dish/nn pile/nn ,/, and/cc by/in means/nns of/in repeated/vbn threats/nns ,/, on/in an/at ascending/vbg scale/nn ,/, seeing/vbg that/cs the/at girls/nns dressed/vbd themselves/ppls ,/, after/in a/at fashion/nn ./.


	I/ppss was/bedz saved/vbn from/in making/vbg the/at decision/nn as/cs the/at phone/nn rang/vbd ,/, and/cc the/at girls/nns were/bed upon/in me/ppo instantly/rb ./.
Here's/rb+bez a/at household/nn hint/nn :/: if/cs you/ppss can't/md* find/vb your/pp$ children/nns ,/, and/cc get/vb tired/vbn of/in calling/vbg them/ppo ,/, pick/vb up/rp the/at phone/nn ./.
No/at matter/nn if/cs your/pp$ children/nns are/ber at/in the/at movies/nns ,/, in/in school/nn ,/, visiting/vbg their/pp$ grandmother/nn ,/, or/cc on/in a/at field/nn trip/nn in/in some/dti distant/jj city/nn ,/, they/ppss will/md be/be upon/in you/ppo magically/rb within/in seconds/nns after/cs you/ppss pick/vb up/rp the/at phone/nn ./.


	Jennie/np and/cc Miranda/np twined/vbd themselves/ppls around/in me/ppo ,/, murmuring/vbg endearments/nns ./.
Louise/np climbed/vbd onto/in a/at stool/nn and/cc clutched/vbd the/at hand/nn with/in which/wdt I/ppss was/bedz trying/vbg to/to hold/vb the/at phone/nn ,/, claiming/vbg my/pp$ immediate/jj attention/nn on/in grounds/nns of/in extreme/jj emergency/nn ./.
Somehow/rb managing/vbg to/to get/vb out/rp a/at cool/jj ,/, poised/vbn ,/, ``/`` Won't/md* you/ppss hold/vb on/rp a/at second/nn ,/, please/uh ''/'' ,/, I/ppss covered/vbd up/rp the/at mouthpiece/nn ,/, and/cc with/in more/ap warmth/nn and/cc less/ap poise/nn ,/, gave/vbd a/at quick/jj lecture/nn on/in crime/nn and/cc punishment/nn ,/, mostly/rb the/at latter/ap ,/, including/in Devil's/nn$-tl Island/nn-tl and/cc the/at remoter/jjr reaches/nns of/in Siberia/np ./.
I/ppss promised/vbd to/to illustrate/vb the/at lecture/nn ,/, if/cs they/ppss so/ql much/ap as/cs breathed/vbd till/cs after/cs the/at call/nn was/bedz completed/vbn ./.


	Speaking/vbg into/in the/at phone/nn again/rb and/cc recognizing/vbg the/at caller/nn ,/, I/ppss resumed/vbd my/pp$ everyday/jj voice/nn ./.
Soon/rb we/ppss were/bed deep/rb in/in a/at conversation/nn that/wps was/bedz interrupted/vbn many/ap times/nns by/in little/ap things/nns like/vb Jennie's/np$ holding/nn her/pp$ breath/nn and/cc pretending/vbg to/to black/vb out/rp ,/, Miranda's/np$ dumping/nn the/at contents/nns of/in the/at sugar/nn bowl/nn on/in the/at table/nn ,/, and/cc various/jj screeches/nns ,/, thuds/nns ,/, and/cc giggles/nns ./.
Under/in the/at circumstances/nns ,/, I/ppss had/hvd difficulty/nn keeping/vbg up/rp with/in the/at conversation/nn on/in the/at phone/nn ,/, but/cc when/wrb I/ppss hung/vbd up/rp I/ppss was/bedz reasonably/rb certain/jj that/cs Francesca/np had/hvd wanted/vbn to/to remind/vb me/ppo of/in our/pp$ town/nn meeting/nn the/at next/ap evening/nn ,/, and/cc how/ql important/jj it/pps was/bedz that/cs Hank/np and/cc I/ppss be/be there/rb ./.


	I/ppss discovered/vbd that/cs the/at girls/nns had/hvd shrewdly/rb vacated/vbn the/at kitchen/nn ,/, and/cc were/bed playing/vbg quietly/rb in/in the/at living/nn room/nn ./.
It/pps seemed/vbd that/cs I/ppss would/md be/be the/at gainer/nn if/cs I/ppss accepted/vbd the/at peace/nn and/cc quiet/nn ,/, instead/rb of/in carrying/vbg out/rp my/pp$ threats/nns ./.


	Resolving/vbg to/to get/vb something/pn done/vbn ,/, I/ppss started/vbd in/rp on/in the/at dishes/nns ./.
No/rb ./.
I'm/ppss+bem not/* saying/vbg it/ppo right/rb ./.
What/wdt I/ppss meant/vbd to/in say/nn was/bedz that/cs I/ppss started/vbd to/to start/vb in/rp on/in the/at dishes/nns by/in gathering/vbg them/ppo all/ql together/rb in/in the/at kitchen/nn sink/nn ./.
They/ppss looked/vbd so/ql formidable/jj ,/, however/wrb ,/, so/ql demanding/vbg ,/, that/cs I/ppss found/vbd myself/ppl staring/vbg at/in them/ppo in/in dismay/nn and/cc starting/vbg to/to woolgather/vb again/rb ,/, this/dt time/nn about/in Francesca/np and/cc her/pp$ husband/nn ./.
How/wrb about/in them/ppo ,/, I/ppss thought/vbd ./.


	Francesca/np and/cc Herbert/np were/bed among/in the/at few/ap people/nns we/ppss knew/vbd in/in Catatonia/np ./.
We/ppss didn't/dod* even/vb know/vb them/ppo till/cs about/in a/at month/nn after/cs we/ppss moved/vbd --/-- at/in that/dt time/nn ,/, they/ppss had/hvd called/vbn on/in us/ppo ,/, after/cs I/ppss met/vbd Fran/np at/in a/at PTA/np-tl meeting/nn ,/, and/cc had/hvd taken/vbn us/ppo in/in hand/nn socially/rb ./.
They/ppss had/hvd been/ben kind/jj to/in us/ppo and/cc we/ppss were/bed indebted/jj to/in them/ppo for/in one/cd or/cc two/cd pleasant/jj dinners/nns ,/, and/cc for/in information/nn as/in to/in where/wrb to/to shop/vb ,/, which/wdt dentist/nn ,/, doctor/nn ,/, plumber/nn ,/, and/cc sitter/nn to/to call/vb (/( not/* that/cs there/ex was/bedz much/ap of/in a/at choice/nn ,/, since/cs Catatonia/np was/bedz just/rb a/at village/nn ;/. ;/.
the/at yellow/jj pages/nns of/in the/at telephone/nn book/nn were/bed amazingly/rb thin/jj )/) ./.


	They/ppss were/bed ``/`` personalities/nns ''/'' ./.
Herb/np ,/, an/at expert/nn on/in narrow/jj ties/nns ,/, thin/jj lapels/nns ,/, and/cc swatches/nns ,/, was/bedz men's/nns$ fashion/nn editor/nn of/in Parvenu/np ,/, the/at weekly/jj magazine/nn with/in the/at tremendous/jj circulation/nn ./.
Fran/np and/cc he/pps had/hvd met/vbn about/in two/cd years/nns after/cs she/pps had/hvd arrived/vbn in/in Manhattan/np from/in Nebraska/np ,/, or/cc was/bedz it/pps Wyoming/np ?/. ?/.
She/pps was/bedz the/at daughter/nn and/cc sole/jj heiress/nn of/in either/cc a/at cattle/nns baron/nn or/cc an/at oil/nn millionaire/nn and/cc ,/, having/hvg arrived/vbn in/in New/jj-tl York/np-tl with/in a/at big/jj bank/nn roll/nn ,/, became/vbd a/at dabbler/nn in/in various/jj fields/nns ./.
She/pps patronized/vbd Greenwich/np-tl Village/nn-tl artists/nns for/in awhile/rb ,/, then/rb put/vbd some/dti money/nn into/in a/at Broadway/np show/nn which/wdt was/bedz successful/jj (/( terrible/jj ,/, but/cc successful/jj )/) ./.
It/pps was/bedz during/in her/pp$ ``/`` writing/vbg ''/'' period/nn that/cs she/pps and/cc Herb/np met/vbd and/cc decided/vbd that/cs they/ppss were/bed in/in love/nn ./.
They/ppss were/bed married/vbn at/in a/at lavish/jj ceremony/nn which/wdt was/bedz duly/rb recorded/vbn in/in Parvenu/np and/cc all/abn other/ap magazines/nns and/cc newspapers/nns ,/, and/cc then/rb they/ppss honeymooned/vbd in/in Bermuda/np ./.
No/rb ,/, not/* Bermuda/np ./.
Bermuda/np was/bedz not/* in/in style/nn that/dt year/nn ./.
They/ppss had/hvd honeymooned/vbn in/in Rome/np ;/. ;/.
everyone/pn was/bedz very/ql high/jj on/in Rome/np that/dt year/nn ./.


	They/ppss had/hvd bought/vbn their/pp$ house/nn in/in Catatonia/np after/cs investigating/vbg all/abn the/at regions/nns of/in suburbia/nn surrounding/vbg New/jj-tl York/np-tl ;/. ;/.
they/ppss had/hvd chosen/vbn Catatonia/np because/cs of/in its/pp$ reputation/nn for/in excellent/jj schools/nns ,/, beaches/nns ,/, and/cc abundance/nn of/in names/nns ./.


	``/`` You/ppss are/ber bound/vbn to/to get/vb involved/vbn with/in people/nns when/wrb you/ppss have/hv children/nns ''/'' ,/, Fran/np had/hvd told/vbn me/ppo at/in our/pp$ first/od meeting/nn ,/, ``/`` so/cs it/pps is/bez good/jj to/to know/vb that/cs those/dts with/in whom/wpo you/ppss get/vb involved/vbn are/ber not/* just/rb dreary/jj little/ap housewives/nns and/cc dull/jj husbands/nns ,/, but/cc People/nns-tl Who/wps-tl Do/do-tl Things/nns-tl ''/'' ./.


	I/ppss admired/vbd their/pp$ easy/jj way/nn of/in doing/vbg things/nns but/cc I/ppss couldn't/md* escape/vb an/at uneasiness/nn at/in their/pp$ way/nn of/in always/rb doing/vbg the/at right/jj things/nns ./.
Their/pp$ house/nn was/bedz a/at centuries-old/jj Colonial/jj-tl which/wdt they/ppss had/hvd had/hvn restored/vbn (/( guided/vbn by/in an/at eminent/jj architect/nn )/) and/cc updated/vbn ,/, and/cc added/vbn on/rp to/in ./.
It/pps had/hvd a/at gourmet's/nn$ corner/nn (/( instead/rb of/in a/at kitchen/nn )/) ,/, a/at breakfast/nn room/nn ,/, a/at luncheon/nn room/nn ,/, a/at dining/vbg room/nn ,/, a/at sitting/vbg room/nn ,/, a/at room/nn for/in standing/vbg up/rp ,/, a/at party/nn room/nn ,/, dressing/vbg rooms/nns for/in everybody/pn ,/, even/rb a/at room/nn for/in mud/nn ./.
It/pps was/bedz all/abn set/vbn up/rp so/cs there/ex would/md be/be no/at dust/nn anywhere/rb and/cc so/cs that/cs their/pp$ children/nns would/md color/vb in/in the/at coloring/vbg room/nn ,/, paint/vb in/in the/at painting/vbg room/nn ,/, play/vb with/in blocks/nns in/in the/at block/nn house/nn ,/, and/cc do/do all/abn the/at other/ap things/nns in/in the/at proper/jj rooms/nns at/in exactly/rb the/at right/jj time/nn ./.
Their/pp$ two/cd boys/nns were/bed ``/`` well/rb adjusted/vbn ''/'' and/cc ,/, like/cs their/pp$ parents/nns ,/, always/rb did/dod the/at right/jj thing/nn at/in the/at right/jj time/nn and/cc damn/vb the/at consequences/nns ./.


	Francesca/np and/cc Herbert/np considered/vbd themselves/ppls violently/rb nonconformist/nn and/cc showed/vbd the/at world/nn they/ppss were/bed by/in filling/vbg their/pp$ Colonial/jj-tl house/nn with/in contemporary/jj furniture/nn and/cc paintings/nns and/cc other/ap art/nn objects/nns (/( expensive/jj ,/, but/cc not/* necessarily/rb valuable/jj ,/, contemporary/jj things/nns )/) ./.
Fran/np flaunted/vbd her/pp$ independence/nn by/in rebelling/vbg against/in the/at Catatonia/np uniform/nn of/in Bermuda/np shorts/nns and/cc knee-length/jj socks/nns by/in wearing/vbg Bermuda/np shorts/nns and/cc knee-length/jj socks/nns in/in colors/nns ;/. ;/.
bright/jj pinks/nns and/cc plaids/nns and/cc vivid/jj stripes/nns ./.
Sometimes/rb she/pps even/rb wore/vbd the/at uniform/nn in/in solid/jj ,/, unrelieved/jj black/jj ,/, and/cc with/in her/pp$ blonde/jj hair/nn cut/vbn so/ql closely/rb ,/, wearing/vbg this/dt uniform/nn ,/, she/pps strongly/rb resembled/vbd a/at member/nn of/in the/at SS./np ./.


	No/at one/pn could/md dislike/vb them/ppo ,/, I/ppss thought/vbd ./.
Sometimes/rb ,/, though/rb ,/, they/ppss did/dod not/* seem/vb quite/ql human/jj ./.
It/pps seemed/vbd ,/, indeed/rb ,/, that/cs their/pp$ house/nn was/bedz not/* so/ql much/rb a/at home/nr ,/, but/cc rather/abl a/at perfect/jj stage/nn set/nn ,/, and/cc that/cs they/ppss were/bed actors/nns who/wps had/hvd been/ben handed/vbn fat/jj roles/nns in/in a/at successful/jj play/nn ,/, and/cc had/hvd talent/nn enough/qlp to/to fill/vb the/at roles/nns competently/rb ,/, with/in nice/jj understatement/nn ./.
Practically/rb the/at only/ap enthusiasm/nn they/ppss showed/vbd was/bedz when/wrb they/ppss were/bed discussing/vbg ``/`` names/nns ''/'' ;/. ;/.
even/rb brand/nn names/nns ./.
You/ppss should/md hear/vb the/at reverence/nn in/in Fran's/np$ voice/nn when/wrb she/pps said/vbd ``/`` Baccarat/np ''/'' or/cc ``/`` Steuben/np ''/'' or/cc ``/`` Madame/np Alexander/np ''/'' ./.
She/pps always/rb let/vbd it/pps be/be known/vbn that/cs there/ex was/bedz wine/nn in/in the/at pot/nn roast/nn or/cc that/cs the/at chicken/nn had/hvd been/ben marinated/vbn in/in brandy/nn ,/, and/cc that/cs Koussevitzky's/np$ second/od cousin/nn was/bedz an/at intimate/nn of/in theirs/pp$$ ./.


	I/ppss wouldn't/md* have/hv wasted/vbn time/nn puzzling/vbg over/in this/dt couple/nn were/bed it/pps not/* for/in my/pp$ fear/nn that/cs all/abn the/at other/ap inhabitants/nns of/in Catatonia/np were/bed equally/ql unreal/jj ./.
I/ppss couldn't/md* feel/vb at/in home/nr among/in them/ppo ./.
Besides/in Francesca/np ,/, there/ex was/bedz Blanche/np ./.
Francesca/np was/bedz pleasant/jj and/cc charming/jj ,/, but/cc Blanche/np was/bedz sweet/jj ./.
Yes/rb ,/, Blanche/np was/bedz very/ql ,/, very/ql sweet/jj --/-- being/beg in/in her/pp$ company/nn was/bedz like/cs being/beg drowned/vbn in/in warm/jj ,/, melted/vbn marshmallows/nns ./.
I/ppss had/hvd once/rb been/ben a/at witness/nn when/wrb Blanche/np had/hvd smiled/vbn and/cc said/vbd with/in only/ap minimum/jj ruefulness/nn ,/, ``/`` Oh/uh ,/, my/pp$ souffle/nn has/hvz collapsed/vbn ''/'' ./.
Anyone/pn knows/vbz how/wrb a/at real/jj ,/, red-blooded/jj woman/nn would/md react/vb to/in such/abl a/at catastrophe/nn !/. !/.
If/cs Blanche/np had/hvd been/ben honest/jj ,/, she/pps would/md have/hv yelled/vbn ,/, slammed/vbn at/in least/ap a/at couple/nn of/in doors/nns ,/, and/cc thrown/vbn a/at few/ap little/ap ,/, valueless/jj things/nns ./.
But/cc dear/jj me/ppo ,/, no/rb ;/. ;/.
not/* Blanche/np ./.


	After/in five/cd minutes/nns with/in Blanche/np ,/, one/pn might/md welcome/vb the/at astringency/nn of/in Grazie/np ,/, who/wps was/bedz a/at sort/nn of/in Gwen/np Cafritz/np to/in Francesca's/np$ Perle/np Mesta/np ./.
Francesca/np and/cc Grazie/np were/bed habitual/jj committee/nn chairmen/nns and/cc they/ppss usually/rb managed/vbd to/to be/be elected/vbn co-chairmen/nns ,/, equal/jj bosses/nns ,/, of/in whatever/wdt PTA/np-tl or/cc civic/jj project/nn was/bedz being/beg launched/vbn ./.
They/ppss were/bed inseparable/jj ,/, not/* because/cs they/ppss were/bed fond/jj of/in each/dt other/ap ,/, but/cc because/cs they/ppss wanted/vbd to/to keep/vb an/at eye/nn on/in each/dt other/ap ,/, as/cs they/ppss were/bed keen/jj rivals/nns for/in social/jj leadership/nn ./.
Grazie/np was/bedz mean/jj :/: quietly/rb mean/jj ,/, and/cc bitterly/rb ,/, unfunnily/rb sarcastic/jj ./.
She/pps it/pps was/bedz who/wps had/hvd looked/vbn to/to see/vb if/cs I/ppss was/bedz wearing/vbg shoes/nns upon/in learning/vbg that/cs I/ppss couldn't/md* drive/vb ./.
Grazie/np had/hvd a/at small/jj ,/, slick/jj head/nn and/cc her/pp$ hair/nn and/cc skin/nn were/bed the/at color/nn of/in golden/jj toast/nn ./.
She/pps lived/vbd in/in an/at ultra-modern/jj house/nn whose/wp$ decoration/nn ,/, appointments/nns ,/, paint/nn ,/, and/cc even/rb pets/nns were/bed chosen/vbn to/to complement/vb her/pp$ coloring/nn ;/. ;/.
the/at pets/nns were/bed a/at couple/nn of/in Siamese/jj cats/nns ./.
Her/pp$ uniform/nn was/bedz of/in rich/jj ,/, raw/jj silk/nn ,/, in/in a/at shade/nn which/wdt matched/vbd her/pp$ hair/nn ,/, skin/nn ,/, housepaint/nn ,/, and/cc cats/nns ,/, and/cc since/cs she/pps was/bedz so/ql thin/jj as/cs to/to be/be almost/ql shapeless/jj ,/, she/pps rather/rb resembled/vbd a/at frozen/vbn fish/nn stick/nn ./.


	The/at husbands/nns of/in these/dts women/nns and/cc others/nns I/ppss had/hvd met/vbn in/in Catatonia/np were/bed distinguished/vbn only/rb in/in that/cs they/ppss were/bed ,/, to/in me/ppo at/in least/ap ,/, indistinguishable/jj ./.
I/ppss couldn't/md* tell/vb one/cd from/in the/at other/ap ./.
Like/cs Herbert/np ,/, they/ppss were/bed all/abn in/in communications/nns :/: radio/nn ,/, television/nn ,/, magazines/nns ,/, and/cc advertising/nn ./.
One/cd or/cc two/cd were/bed writers/nns of/in books/nns ;/. ;/.
all/abn were/bed fellows/nns of/in finite/jj charm/nn ./.
Each/dt had/hvd developed/vbn a/at hair-trigger/nn chuckle/nn and/cc the/at habit/nn of/in saying/vbg ``/`` zounds/uh ''/'' !/. !/.
In/in deference/nn to/in country-squirehood/nn ./.
I/ppss never/rb thought/vbn I'd/ppss+md live/vb to/to hear/vb people/nns chuckle/vb and/cc say/vb ``/`` zounds/uh ''/'' !/. !/.
In/in real/jj life/nn ./.
I/ppss wouldn't/md* have/hv missed/vbn it/ppo for/in anything/pn ./.
They/ppss were/bed ``/`` sincere/jj ''/'' --/-- men/nns of/in the/at too-hearty/jj handclasp/nn and/cc the/at urgent/jj smile/nn ./.
These/dts boys/nns acknowledged/vbd an/at introduction/nn to/in anybody/pn by/in gently/rb pressing/vbg one/cd of/in his/pp$ hands/nns in/in both/abx of/in theirs/pp$$ ,/, while/cs they/ppss gazed/vbd ,/, misty-eyed/jj with/in care/nn ,/, into/in the/at eyes/nns of/in the/at person/nn they/ppss were/bed meeting/vbg ./.
Could/md such/jj unadulterated/jj love/nn ,/, for/in a/at total/jj stranger/nn ,/, be/be credited/vbn ?/. ?/.
They/ppss were/bed always/rb leaping/vbg to/to light/vb cigarettes/nns ,/, open/vb car/nn doors/nns ,/, fill/vb plates/nns or/cc glasses/nns ,/, and/cc I/ppss mistrusted/vbd the/at whole/jj lot/nn of/in them/ppo to/in the/at same/ap degree/nn that/cs I/ppss mistrusted/vbd bake/jj shops/nns that/wps called/vbd themselves/ppls ``/`` Sanitary/jj-tl Bake/jj-tl Shops/nns-tl ''/'' ./.


	``/`` O/uh !/. !/.
Pioneers/nns-tl !/. !/.
''/'' I/ppss thought/vbd ,/, and/cc wondered/vbd what/wdt kind/nn of/in homesteads/nns such/jj odd/jj pioneers/nns would/md establish/vb in/in this/dt suburban/jj frontier/nn ;/. ;/.
pioneers/nns who/wps looked/vbd like/cs off-duty/jj gardeners/nns even/rb at/in parent-teacher/nn conferences/nns and/cc who/wps never/rb called/vbd the/at school/nn principal/nn ``/`` Mister/np ''/'' ./.
I/ppss sighed/vbd ,/, thinking/vbg that/cs among/in other/ap things/nns ,/, people/nns here/rb seemed/vbd to/to be/be those/dts who/wps would/md have/hv to/to cut/vb down/rp if/cs they/ppss earned/vbd less/ap than/in $85,000/nns yearly/rb ;/. ;/.
people/nns who/wps would/md give/vb their/pp$ teeth/nns for/in a/at chance/nn to/to get/vb on/in ``/`` Person/nn-tl to/in-tl Person/nn-tl ''/'' ;/. ;/.
people/nns who/wps thought/vbd it/pps was/bedz nice/jj to/to be/be important/jj ,/, but/cc not/* important/jj to/to be/be nice/jj ;/. ;/.
who/wps were/bed more/ql ingratiating/jj than/cs gracious/jj ,/, more/ap personalities/nns than/in persons/nns ./.
In/in my/pp$ estimation/nn ,/, they/ppss were/bed people/nns who/wps read/vbd Daphne/np du/np Maurier/np ,/, and/cc discussed/vbd Kafka/np ;/. ;/.
well/uh ,/, not/* discussed/vbd him/ppo exactly/rb ,/, but/cc said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Kafka/np ''/'' !/. !/.
Reverently/rb and/cc raised/vbd their/pp$ eyes/nns ,/, as/cs if/cs they/ppss were/bed at/in a/at loss/nn to/to describe/vb how/wrb they/ppss felt/vbd about/in Kafka/np ,/, which/wdt they/ppss were/bed ,/, because/cs they/ppss had/hvd no/at opinions/nns about/in Kafka/np ,/, not/* having/hvg read/vbn Kafka/np ./.
They/ppss were/bed ,/, I/ppss felt/vbd ,/, people/nns invariably/rb trying/vbg to/to prove/vb not/* who/wps ,/, but/cc what/wdt they/ppss were/bed ,/, and/cc trying/vbg to/to determine/vb what/wdt ,/, not/* who/wps ,/, others/nns were/bed ./.


	Becoming/vbg aware/jj that/cs it/pps was/bedz nearly/rb lunchtime/nn ,/, I/ppss brought/vbd myself/ppl back/rb to/in the/at tasks/nns at/in hand/nn ./.
I/ppss made/vbd plans/nns for/in the/at afternoon/nn --/-- doing/vbg the/at breakfast/nn and/cc luncheon/nn dishes/nns all/abn at/in once/rb ,/, making/vbg the/at beds/nns ,/, and/cc then/rb maybe/rb painting/vbg the/at kitchen/nn ./.
Then/rb ,/, I/ppss remembered/vbd that/cs the/at girls/nns had/hvd had/hvn a/at banana/nn for/in dessert/nn every/at day/nn for/in the/at last/ap week/nn ./.
``/`` Bananas/nns ''/'' !/. !/.
Jennie/np had/hvd shouted/vbn each/dt time/nn ./.
``/`` They're/ppss+ber not/* dessert/nn !/. !/.
They're/ppss+ber not/* even/rb food/nn ./.
They're/ppss+ber just/rb something/pn you're/ppss+ber supposed/vbn to/to put/vb on/in cereal/nn for/in breakfast/nn ''/'' ./.
I/ppss dug/vbd around/rb and/cc found/vbd a/at mix/nn ,/, and/cc was/bedz able/jj to/to surprise/vb them/ppo with/in a/at devil's-food/nn cake/nn with/in chocolate/nn icing/nn ./.
(/( Sometimes/rb I/ppss think/vb you/ppo need/vb only/ap one/cd rule/nn for/in cooking/vbg :/: if/cs you/ppss can't/md* put/vb garlic/nn in/in it/ppo ,/, put/vb chocolate/nn in/in it/ppo ./.
)/) 

	The/at cake/nn was/bedz received/vbn in/in a/at stunned/vbn silence/nn that/wps was/bedz evidence/nn in/in itself/ppl of/in the/at dearth/nn of/in taste/nn thrills/nns Mama/nn-tl had/hvd been/ben providing/vbg ./.
Then/jj Jennie/np closed/vbd her/pp$ eyes/nns ,/, stretched/vbd forth/rb her/pp$ arms/nns ,/, and/cc said/vbd :/: ``/`` Take/vb my/pp$ hand/nn ,/, Louise/np ;/. ;/.
I'm/ppss+bem a/at stranger/nn in/in paradise/nn ''/'' ./.



	Needless/jj to/to say/vb ,/, I/ppss was/bedz furious/jj at/in this/dt unparalleled/jj intrusion/nn upon/in free/jj enterprise/nn ./.
How/wrb dared/vbn they/ppss demand/vb to/to ``/`` snoop/vb ''/'' in/in private/jj financial/jj records/nns ,/, disbursements/nns ,/, confidential/jj contracts/nns and/cc agreements/nns ?/. ?/.
``/`` It/pps is/bez as/cs though/cs ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd on/in the/at historic/jj three-hour/jj ,/, coast-to-coast/nn radio/nn broadcast/nn which/wdt I/ppss bought/vbd (/( following/vbg Father/nn-tl Coughlin/np-tl and/cc pre-empting/jj the/at Eddie/np Cantor/np ,/, Manhattan/np-tl Merry-go-round/nn-tl and/cc Major/nn-tl Bowes/np shows/nns )/) ``/`` That/dt-tl Man/nn-tl in/in-tl the/at-tl White/jj-tl House/nn-tl ,/, like/cs some/dti despot/nn of/in yore/nn ,/, insisted/vbd on/in reading/vbg my/pp$ diary/nn ,/, raiding/vbg my/pp$ larder/nn and/cc ransacking/vbg my/pp$ lingerie/nn !/. !/.
''/'' My/pp$ impassioned/jj plea/nn for/in civil/jj rights/nns created/vbd a/at landslide/nn of/in correspondence/nn and/cc one/cd sponsor/nn even/rb asked/vbd me/ppo to/to consider/vb replacing/vbg the/at Eddie/np Cantor/np comedy/nn hour/nn on/in a/at permanent/jj basis/nn ./.
But/cc what/wdt quarter/nn could/md a/at poor/jj defenseless/jj woman/nn expect/vb from/in a/at dictator/nn who/wps would/md even/vb make/vb so/ql bold/jj as/cs to/to close/vb all/abn of/in the/at banks/nns in/in our/pp$ great/jj nation/nn ?/. ?/.
The/at savage/jj barbarian/nn hordes/nns of/in red/jj Russian/jj Communism/nn-tl descended/vbd on/in the/at Athens/np that/wps was/bedz mighty/jj Metronome/nn-tl ,/, sacking/vbg and/cc despoiling/vbg with/in their/pp$ Bolshevistic/jj battle/nn cry/nn of/in ``/`` Soak/vb the/at rich/nn '/' !/. !/.
After/in an/at unspeakable/jj siege/nn ,/, lasting/vbg the/at better/jjr part/nn of/in two/cd months/nns ,/, it/pps was/bedz announced/vbn that/cs the/at studio/nn ``/`` owed/vbd ''/'' the/at government/nn a/at tax/nn debt/nn in/in excess/nn of/in eight/cd million/cd dollars/nns while/cs I/ppss ,/, who/wps had/hvd always/rb remained/vbn aloof/rb from/in such/jj iniquitous/jj practices/nns as/cs paying/vbg taxes/nns on/in the/at salary/nn I/ppss had/hvd earned/vbn and/cc the/at little/ap I/ppss legally/rb inherited/vbd as/cs Morris'/np$ helpless/jj relict/nn ,/, was/bedz ``/`` stung/vbn ''/'' with/in a/at personal/jj bill/nn of/in such/jj astronomical/jj proportions/nns as/cs to/to ``/`` wipe/vb out/rp ''/'' all/abn but/in a/at fraction/nn of/in my/pp$ poor/jj ,/, hard-come-by/jj savings/nns ./.
I/ppss was/bedz also/rb publicly/rb reprimanded/vbn ,/, dragged/vbn through/in the/at mud/nn by/in the/at radical/jj press/nn and/cc made/vbn a/at figure/nn of/in fun/nn by/in such/jj leftist/nn publications/nns as/cs The/at-tl New/jj-tl Republic/nn-tl ,/, The/at-tl New/jj-tl Yorker/np-tl ,/, Time/nn-tl and/cc The/at-tl Christian/jj-tl Science/nn-tl Monitor/nn-tl ./.


	It/pps was/bedz then/rb that/cs I/ppss availed/vbd myself/ppl of/in the/at rights/nns of/in a/at citizen/nn and/cc declared/vbd the/at income/nn tax/nn unconstitutional/jj ./.
The/at litigation/nn was/bedz costly/jj and/cc seemingly/rb endless/jj ./.
I/ppss fought/vbd like/cs a/at tigress/nn but/cc by/in the/at time/nn I/ppss appealed/vbd my/pp$ case/nn to/in the/at Supreme/jj-tl Court/nn-tl (/( 1937/cd )/) ,/, Mr./np Roosevelt/np and/cc his/pp$ ``/`` henchmen/nns ''/'' had/hvd done/vbn their/pp$ ``/`` dirty/jj work/nn ''/'' all/ql too/ql well/rb ,/, even/rb going/vbg so/ql far/rb as/cs to/to attempt/vb to/to ``/`` pack/vb ''/'' the/at highest/jjt tribunal/nn in/in the/at land/nn in/in order/nn to/to defeat/vb little/jj me/ppo ./.
Presidential/jj coercion/nn had/hvd succeeded/vbn not/* only/rb in/in poisoning/vbg the/at courtiers/nns ,/, ``/`` toadies/nns ''/'' and/cc sycophants/nns of/in the/at ``/`` bench/nn ''/'' against/in me/ppo ,/, but/cc it/pps had/hvd been/ben so/ql far-reaching/jj as/cs to/to discourage/vb any/dti lawyer/nn in/in the/at nation/nn from/in representing/vbg me/ppo !/. !/.
I/ppss was/bedz ready/jj ,/, like/cs Portia/np ,/, to/to present/vb my/pp$ own/jj brief/nn ./.
But/cc the/at Supreme/jj-tl Court/nn-tl wouldn't/md* even/vb hear/vb my/pp$ case/nn !/. !/.
My/pp$ plea/nn was/bedz unanimously/rb voted/vbn down/rp and/cc ``/`` thrown/vbn out/rp ''/'' ./.
Again/rb ,/, my/pp$ name/nn was/bedz on/in all/abn the/at front/jj pages/nns ./.
I/ppss was/bedz ,/, it/pps seemed/vbd ,/, persona/fw-nn non/fw-* grata/fw-jj in/in every/at quarter/nn ,/, but/cc not/* entirely/rb without/in a/at staunch/jj following/nn of/in noted/vbn political/jj thinkers/nns and/cc students/nns of/in jurisprudence/nn ./.
As/cs Charles/np Evans/np Hughes/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Miss/np Poitrine's/np$ limitations/nns as/cs an/at actress/nn are/ber exceeded/vbn only/rb by/in her/pp$ logic/nn as/cs a/at litigant/nn ''/'' ./.
Albert/np Einstein/np was/bedz quoted/vbn as/cs saying/vbg :/: ``/`` The/at workings/nns of/in the/at woman's/nn$ mind/nn amaze/vb me/ppo ''/'' ./.
Henry/np Ford/np spoke/vbd of/in me/ppo as/cs ``/`` utterly/rb astounding/jj ''/'' ./.
Heywood/np Broun/np wrote/vbd :/: ``/`` Belle/np Poitrine/np is/bez the/at most/ql original/jj thinker/nn since/cs Caligula/np ''/'' ,/, and/cc even/rb F.D.R./np had/hvd to/to concede/vb that/cs ``/`` if/cs the/at rest/nn of/in this/dt nation/nn showed/vbd the/at foresight/nn and/cc patriotism/nn of/in Miss/np Poitrine/np ,/, America/np would/md rapidly/rb resemble/vb ancient/jj Babylon/np and/cc Nineveh/np ''/'' ./.


	Not/* only/rb were/bed the/at court/nn costs/nns prohibitive/jj ,/, but/cc I/ppss was/bedz subjected/vbn to/in crippling/vbg fines/nns ,/, in/in addition/nn to/in usurious/jj interest/nn on/in the/at unpaid/jj ``/`` debts/nns ''/'' which/wdt the/at government/nn claimed/vbd that/cs Metronome/nn-tl and/cc I/ppss owed/vbd --/-- a/at severe/jj financial/jj blow/nn ./.
Nor/cc ,/, as/cs Manny/np said/vbd ,/, had/hvd the/at notoriety/nn done/vbn my/pp$ career/nn ``/`` any/dti good/jj ''/'' ./.
My/pp$ enemies/nns were/bed only/rb too/ql anxious/jj to/to level/vb against/in me/ppo such/jj charges/nns as/cs ``/`` reactionary/nn ''/'' ,/, ``/`` robber/nn baroness/nn ''/'' ,/, and/cc even/rb ``/`` traitor/nn ''/'' !/. !/.
Traitor/nn indeed/rb !/. !/.
I/ppss point/vb now/rb with/in pride/nn to/in the/at fact/nn that/cs ,/, long/jj ere/cs the/at Committee/nn-tl on/in-tl Un-American/jj-tl Activities/nns-tl ,/, the/at Minute/nn-tl Women/nns-tl ,/, the/at Economic/jj-tl Council/nn-tl and/cc other/ap such/jj notable/jj ``/`` watchdog/nn ''/'' organizations/nns were/bed so/ql much/rb as/cs heard/vbn of/in ,/, I/ppss was/bedz Hollywood's/np$ leading/vbg bulwark/nn against/in communism/nn ,/, fighting/vbg single-handedly/rb ``/`` creeping/vbg socialism/nn ''/'' against/in such/jj insuperable/jj odds/nns as/cs the/at Fascio-Communist/np troops/nns of/in the/at NRA/np-tl ,/, PWA/np-tl ,/, WPA/np-tl ,/, CCC/np-tl and/cc an/at army/nn of/in more/ap than/in twenty-two/cd million/cd mercenaries/nns whom/wpo F.D.R./np employed/vbd secretly/rb ,/, through/in the/at transparent/jj ruse/nn of/in regular/jj ``/`` relief/nn ''/'' checks/nns ./.


	Needless/jj to/to say/vb ,/, my/pp$ art/nn suffered/vbd drastically/rb during/in this/dt turbulent/jj period/nn ./.
Could/md it/pps do/do otherwise/rb ?/. ?/.
Even/rb though/cs I/ppss have/hv always/rb had/hvn a/at genius/nn for/in ``/`` throwing/vbg myself/ppl ''/'' into/in every/at role/nn and/cc ``/`` playing/vbg it/ppo for/in all/abn it's/pps+bez worth/jj ''/'' ,/, no/at actress/nn can/md be/be expected/vbn to/to do/do her/pp$ best/jjt work/nn when/wrb her/pp$ fortune/nn ,/, her/pp$ reputation/nn ,/, her/pp$ livelihood/nn ,/, her/pp$ home/nr and/cc her/pp$ nation/nn itself/ppl are/ber all/abn imperilled/vbn ./.
Such/jj sweeping/vbg distractions/nns are/ber hardly/ql conducive/jj to/in ``/`` Oscar/np ''/'' winning/vbg performances/nns ./.
I/ppss tried/vbd my/pp$ hardest/jjt ,/, with/in little/ap help/nn ,/, may/md I/ppss say/vb ,/, from/in my/pp$ husband/nn and/cc leading/vbg man/nn ,/, but/cc somehow/rb the/at outside/jj pressures/nns were/bed too/ql severe/jj ./.


	Having/hvg (/( through/in my/pp$ unflagging/jj effort/nn and/cc devotion/nn )/) achieved/vbn stardom/nn ,/, a/at fortune/nn and/cc a/at world-renowned/jj wife/nn at/in an/at age/nn when/wrb most/ql young/jj men/nns are/ber casting/vbg their/pp$ first/od vote/nn ,/, Letch/np proceeded/vbd to/to neglect/vb them/ppo all/abn ./.
Never/rb a/at ``/`` quick/jj study/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps now/rb made/vbd no/at attempt/nn to/to learn/vb his/pp$ ``/`` lines/nns ''/'' and/cc many/abn a/at mile/nn of/in film/nn was/bedz wasted/vbn ,/, many/abn a/at scene/nn --/-- sometimes/rb involving/in as/ql many/ap as/cs a/at thousand/cd fellow/nn thespians/nns --/-- was/bedz taken/vbn thirty/cd ,/, forty/cd ,/, fifty/cd times/nns because/cs Miss/np Poitrine's/np$ co-star/nn and/cc ``/`` helpmate/nn ''/'' had/hvd never/rb learned/vbn his/pp$ part/nn ./.
Each/dt time/nn Letch/np ``/`` went/vbd up/rp ''/'' in/in his/pp$ ``/`` lines/nns ''/'' ,/, I/ppss was/bedz the/at one/pn to/to be/be patient/jj ,/, helpful/jj and/cc apologetic/jj while/cs he/pps indulged/vbd in/in outbursts/nns of/in temperament/nn ,/, profanity/nn and/cc abuse/nn ,/, blaming/vbg others/nns ,/, going/vbg into/in ``/`` sulks/nns ''/'' and/cc ,/, on/in more/ap occasions/nns than/cs I/ppss care/vb to/to count/vb ,/, storming/vbg off/in the/at ``/`` set/nn ''/'' for/in the/at rest/nn of/in the/at day/nn ./.
As/in for/in his/pp$ finances/nns ,/, I/ppss was/bedz never/rb privileged/jj to/to know/vb exactly/rb how/wrb much/ap money/nn Letch/np had/hvd ``/`` salted/vbn away/rb ''/'' ./.
It/pps was/bedz I/ppss who/wps paid/vbd for/in our/pp$ little/ap home/nr ,/, the/at food/nn ,/, the/at liquor/nn ,/, the/at servants/nns --/-- even/rb Letch's/np$ bills/nns at/in his/pp$ tailor/nn and/cc the/at Los/np-tl Angeles/np-tl Athletic/jj-tl Club/nn-tl ./.
Never/rb once/rb did/dod he/pps buy/vb me/ppo a/at single/ap gift/nn and/cc for/in our/pp$ third/od anniversary/nn he/pps gave/vbd me/ppo a/at dislocated/vbn jaw/nn ./.
(/( But/cc that/dt is/bez another/dt story/nn ./.
)/) As/in for/in his/pp$ private/jj monies/nns ,/, they/ppss were/bed rapidly/rb dissipated/vbn in/in drinking/vbg ,/, gaming/vbg and/cc carousing/vbg ./.
More/ap than/in once/rb I/ppss was/bedz confronted/vbn by/in professional/jj gamblers/nns ,/, ``/`` bookies/nns ''/'' ,/, loan/nn ``/`` sharks/nns ''/'' ,/, gangsters/nns ,/, ``/`` thugs/nns ''/'' and/cc ``/`` finger/nn men/nns ''/'' --/-- people/nns of/in a/at class/nn I/ppss did/dod not/* even/vb know/vb existed/vbn --/-- to/to repay/vb my/pp$ husband's/nn$ staggering/jj losses/nns ,/, ``/`` or/cc else/rb ''/'' I/ppss shuddered/vbd to/to think/vb that/cs someone/pn so/ql dear/jj to/in me/ppo could/md even/rb associate/vb with/in such/abl a/at sinister/jj milieu/nn ./.
And/cc at/in three/cd different/jj times/nns during/in our/pp$ turbulent/jj marriage/nn strange/jj girls/nns ,/, with/in the/at commonest/jjt of/in accents/nns ,/, telephoned/vbd to/to announce/vb to/in me/ppo that/cs Letch/np had/hvd sired/vbn their/pp$ unborn/jj children/nns !/. !/.
Having/hvg the/at deepest/jjt of/in maternal/jj instincts/nns ,/, my/pp$ heart/nn fairly/rb bled/vbn when/wrb I/ppss thought/vbd of/in the/at darling/jj pink/jj and/cc white/jj ``/`` bundles/nns from/in heaven/nn ''/'' I/ppss would/md have/hv proudly/rb given/vbn my/pp$ husband/nn ./.
``/`` Ah/uh ,/, you're/ppss+ber too/ql old/jj ''/'' ,/, was/bedz invariably/rb his/pp$ ungallant/jj and/cc untrue/jj retort/nn whenever/wrb I/ppss suggested/vbd ``/`` starting/vbg a/at family/nn ''/'' ./.
Letch/np had/hvd made/vbn it/ppo abundantly/ql clear/jj that/cs he/pps did/dod not/* care/vb for/in the/at company/nn of/in my/pp$ own/jj precious/jj daughter/nn ./.
I/ppss now/rb felt/vbd it/ppo wiser/jjr to/to keep/vb Baby-dear/np in/in school/nn and/cc --/-- during/in the/at summers/nns --/-- at/in a/at camp/nn run/vbn by/in the/at Society/nn-tl of/in-tl Friends/nns-tl all/abn year/nn around/rb ./.
Her/pp$ presence/nn only/rb made/vbd Letch/np more/ql distant/jj and/cc irritable/jj and/cc ,/, in/in the/at hurry/nn of/in buying/vbg Chateau/np Belletch/np ,/, I/ppss had/hvd neglected/vbn to/to consider/vb a/at room/nn for/in Baby-dear/np ,/, so/cs there/ex was/bedz no/at place/nn to/to put/vb her/ppo ,/, anyhow/rb ./.
(/( I/ppss sometimes/rb feel/vb that/cs God/np ,/, in/in His/pp$ infinite/jj wisdom/nn ,/, wants/vbz us/ppo to/to have/hv these/dts inexplicable/jj little/ap lapses/nns of/in memory/nn ./.
It/pps almost/ql always/rb works/vbz out/rp for/in the/at best/jjt ./.
)/) 

	Yet/rb I/ppss adored/vbd this/dt man/nn ,/, Letch/np Feeley/np ,/, why/wrb ,/, I/ppss cannot/md* say/vb ./.
With/in faint/jj heart/nn and/cc a/at brave/jj smile/nn ,/, I/ppss endured/vbd his/pp$ long/jj absences/nns from/in Chateau/np Belletch/np ,/, his/pp$ coldness/nn ,/, his/pp$ indifference/nn ,/, his/pp$ slights/nns and/cc his/pp$ abuse/nn ./.
The/at times/nns I/ppss can/md recall/vb when/wrb I/ppss was/bedz publicly/rb humiliated/vbn by/in him/ppo --/-- lovely/jj dinner/nn parties/nns in/in our/pp$ Trianon/np-tl Suite/nn-tl where/wrb the/at collation/nn was/bedz postponed/vbn and/cc postponed/vbn and/cc postponed/vbn ,/, only/rb to/to be/be served/vbn dry/jj and/cc overcooked/vbn at/in a/at table/nn where/wrb the/at host's/nn$ chair/nn was/bedz vacant/jj ;/. ;/.
a/at ``/`` splash/nn party/nn ''/'' at/in the/at new/jj pool/nn ,/, which/wdt I/ppss had/hvd built/vbn in/in the/at hope/nn of/in keeping/vbg Letch/np away/rb from/in public/jj beaches/nns ,/, when/wrb Letch/np and/cc a/at certain/jj Aquacutie/np stayed/vbd underwater/rb together/rb for/in the/at better/jjr part/nn of/in an/at hour/nn ;/. ;/.
a/at lovely/jj Epiphany/nn-tl party/nn at/in Errol/np Flynn's/np$ ,/, on/in which/wdt sacred/jj occasion/nn Letch/np stole/vbd away/rb with/in an/at unknown/jj ``/`` starlet/nn ''/'' ,/, leaving/vbg me/ppo ``/`` high/jj and/cc dry/vb ''/'' to/to get/vb home/nr as/cs best/rbt I/ppss could/md ./.
These/dts are/ber but/in a/at sampling/nn of/in the/at insults/nns I/ppss endured/vbd ./.
As/cs Mrs./np Letch/np Feeley/np ,/, was/bedz it/pps any/dti wonder/nn that/cs I/ppss ,/, once/cs the/at social/jj arbiter/nn of/in Filmdom/nn-tl ,/, was/bedz excluded/vbn from/in the/at smart/jj entertainments/nns given/vbn by/in the/at Astaires/nps ,/, the/at Coopers/nps ,/, the/at Gables/nps ,/, the/at Colmans/nps ,/, the/at Rathbones/nps ,/, the/at Taylors/nps ,/, the/at Thalbergs/nps and/cc such/jj devout/jj ,/, closely/rb knit/vbn families/nns as/cs the/at Barrymores/nps and/cc the/at Crosbys/nps ?/. ?/.
As/cs Letch's/np$ antisocial/jj conduct/nn increased/vbd ,/, our/pp$ invitations/nns decreased/vbd and/cc my/pp$ heart/nn was/bedz in/in my/pp$ mouth/nn whenever/wrb I/ppss played/vbd hostess/nn at/in a/at fashionable/jj ``/`` screenland/nn ''/'' gathering/nn ./.


	Between/in 1935/cd and/cc 1939/cd Letch/np and/cc I/ppss made/vbd ten/cd films/nns together/rb ,/, each/dt less/ql successful/jj ,/, both/abx artistically/rb and/cc commercially/rb ,/, than/cs the/at one/pn before/in it/ppo ./.
Our/pp$ last/ap joint/jj venture/nn ,/, Sainted/jj-tl Lady/nn-tl ,/, a/at deeply/rb religious/jj film/nn based/vbn on/in the/at life/nn of/in Mother/nn-tl Cabrini/np-tl ,/, and/cc timed/vbn so/cs that/cs its/pp$ release/nn date/nn would/md coincide/vb with/in the/at beatification/nn of/in America's/np$ first/od saint/nn in/in November/np ,/, 1938/cd ,/, was/bedz a/at fiasco/nn from/in start/nn to/in finish/nn ./.
As/cs I/ppss was/bedz playing/vbg Mother/nn-tl Cabrini/np ,/, the/at picture/nn was/bedz actually/rb ``/`` all/abn mine/pp$$ ''/'' ,/, with/in nearly/rb every/at scene/nn built/vbn around/in me/ppo ./.
But/cc in/in order/nn to/to keep/vb Letch/np in/in the/at public/jj eye/nn and/cc out/in of/in trouble/nn ,/, I/ppss wrote/vbd in/rp a/at part/nn especially/rb for/in him/ppo --/-- that/dt of/in a/at dashing/vbg ruffian/nn who/wps ``/`` sees/vbz the/at light/nn ''/'' and/cc is/bez saved/vbn by/in the/at inspiring/jj example/nn of/in Mother/nn-tl Cabrini/np ./.
And/cc did/dod he/pps appreciate/vb my/pp$ efforts/nns on/in his/pp$ behalf/nn ?/. ?/.
Did/dod he/pps trouble/vb to/to memorize/vb the/at very/ql small/jj part/vb which/wdt I/ppss had/hvd ``/`` tailor-made/vbn ''/'' to/in his/pp$ specifications/nns ,/, a/at role/nn eventually/rb cut/vbn down/rp to/in three/cd short/jj speeches/nns ?/. ?/.
Did/dod he/pps show/vb the/at rest/nn of/in the/at cast/nn --/-- numbering/vbg four/cd thousand/cd --/-- the/at consideration/nn of/in arriving/vbg at/in the/at studio/nn punctually/rb --/-- or/cc even/rb at/in all/abn ?/. ?/.
He/pps did/dod not/* !/. !/.
The/at ``/`` shooting/nn ''/'' went/vbd on/rp for/in eight/cd months/nns !/. !/.
Most/ap of/in our/pp$ working/vbg days/nns were/bed spent/vbn on/in the/at telephone/nn calling/vbg ``/`` bookies/nns ''/'' ,/, illegal/jj gambling/vbg dens/nns ,/, a/at certain/jj ``/`` residential/jj club/nn for/in young/jj actresses/nns ''/'' ,/, more/ap than/in a/at hundred/cd different/jj bars/nns or/cc the/at steam/nn room/nn of/in the/at athletic/jj club/nn ./.
Whenever/wrb he/pps deigned/vbd to/to appear/vb at/in the/at studio/nn he/pps was/bedz ``/`` hung/vbn over/rp ''/'' ,/, uncooperative/jj ,/, rude/jj and/cc insulting/vbg ./.
He/pps made/vbd many/ap tasteless/jj ,/, irreverent/jj and/cc unfunny/jj remarks/nns ,/, not/* only/rb about/in me/ppo in/in the/at title/nn role/nn ,/, but/cc about/in religion/nn in/in general/jj ./.
By/in the/at time/nn the/at film/nn was/bedz released/vbn we/ppss were/bed three/cd million/cd dollars/nns over-spent/vbn ,/, war/nn was/bedz imminent/jj and/cc the/at public/nn apparently/rb had/hvd forgotten/vbn all/abn about/in Mother/nn-tl Cabrini/np ./.
Thanks/nns to/in Letch/np Feeley/np and/cc the/at terrible/jj strain/nn he/pps imposed/vbd on/in me/ppo ,/, the/at notices/nns were/bed few/ap and/cc unfavorable/jj ./.
Only/rb George/np Santayana/np seemed/vbd to/to understand/vb and/cc appreciate/vb the/at film/nn when/wrb he/pps wrote/vbd :/: ``/`` Miss/np Poitrine/np has/hvz perpetrated/vbn the/at most/ql eloquent/jj argument/nn for/in the/at Protestant/jj faith/nn yet/rb unleashed/vbn by/in Hollywood/np ''/'' ./.
But/cc it/pps was/bedz small/jj consolation/nn ./.


	In/in a/at rare/jj fit/nn of/in anger/nn and/cc spite/nn ,/, I/ppss ``/`` farmed/vbd out/rp ''/'' my/pp$ own/jj husband/nn to/in a/at small/jj and/cc most/ql undistinguished/jj studio/nn to/to make/vb one/cd picture/nn as/cs a/at form/nn of/in punishment/nn ./.
(/( An/at actor/nn must/md have/hv discipline/nn ./.
)/) The/at film/nn was/bedz called/vbn The/at Diet/nn-tl of/in-tl Worms/np-tl ,/, which/wdt I/ppss felt/vbd was/bedz just/rb what/wdt Letch/np deserved/vbd ./.
It/pps turned/vbd out/rp to/to be/be a/at life/nn of/in Martin/np Luther/np ,/, of/in all/abn things/nns !/. !/.
It/pps was/bedz a/at disaster/nn !/. !/.
In/in clothes/nns ,/, Letch/np simply/rb did/dod not/* project/vb ./.
He/pps was/bedz laughed/vbn off/in the/at screen/nn ./.
At/in the/at same/ap time/nn ,/, however/rb ,/, I/ppss availed/vbd myself/ppl of/in the/at services/nns of/in that/dt great/jj English/jj actor/nn and/cc master/nn of/in make-up/nn ,/, Sir/np Gauntley/np Pratt/np ,/, to/to do/do a/at ``/`` quickie/nn ''/'' called/vbn The/at-tl Mystery/nn-tl of/in-tl the/at-tl Mad/jj-tl Marquess/nn-tl ,/, in/in which/wdt I/ppss played/vbd a/at young/jj American/jj girl/nn who/wps inherits/vbz a/at haunted/vbn castle/nn on/in the/at English/jj moors/nns which/wdt is/bez filled/vbn with/in secret/jj passages/nns and/cc sliding/vbg panels/nns and/cc ,/, unbeknownst/jj to/in anyone/pn ,/, is/bez still/rb occupied/vbn by/in an/at eccentric/jj maniac/nn ./.
It/pps was/bedz a/at ``/`` potboiler/nn ''/'' made/vbn on/in a/at ``/`` shoestring/nn ''/'' and/cc not/* the/at sort/nn of/in film/nn I/ppss like/vb ,/, as/cs all/abn I/ppss had/hvd to/to do/do was/bedz look/vb blank/jj and/cc scream/vb a/at great/jj deal/nn ./.
My/pp$ heart/nn was/bedz not/* in/in it/ppo ,/, but/cc ,/, oddly/rb enough/qlp ,/, it/pps remains/vbz the/at most/ql financially/rb successful/jj picture/nn of/in my/pp$ career/nn ./.
(/( I/ppss watched/vbd it/ppo on/in television/nn late/rb one/cd night/nn last/ap week/nn and/cc it/pps ``/`` stands/vbz up/rp ''/'' remarkably/rb well/rb ,/, even/rb twenty/cd years/nns later/rbr ./.
)/) 

	Letch/np had/hvd returned/vbn from/in his/pp$ debacle/nn unrepentant/jj and/cc more/ql badly/rb behaved/vbn than/cs before/rb ./.
I/ppss really/rb loved/vbd that/dt boy/nn ,/, and/cc ,/, in/in a/at feverish/jj attempt/nn to/to preserve/vb our/pp$ marriage/nn and/cc to/to try/vb to/to revive/vb the/at wonderful/jj ,/, wonderful/jj person/nn Letch/np had/hvd once/rb been/ben ,/, I/ppss took/vbd my/pp$ troubles/nns to/in Momma/np ,/, hoping/vbg that/cs her/pp$ earthy/jj advice/nn would/md help/vb me/ppo ./.


	``/`` If/cs I/ppss could/md only/rb think/vb of/in something/pn at/in the/at studio/nn ,/, near/in me/ppo ,/, to/to absorb/vb his/pp$ boundless/jj energy/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` What/wdt is/bez Letch/np interested/vbn in/rp ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Bookies/nns ,/, booze/nn and/cc babes/nns ''/'' ,/, Momma/np said/vbd bluntly/rb ./.


	Her/pp$ reply/nn stung/vbd me/ppo ,/, but/cc this/dt was/bedz too/ql important/jj to/to let/vb my/pp$ hurt/nn make/vb any/dti difference/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss can't/md* turn/vb the/at studio/nn into/in a/at gambling/vbg hell/nn or/cc a/at saloon/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.



	Up/in to/in date/nn ,/, however/rb ,/, his/pp$ garden/nn was/bedz still/rb more/ap or/cc less/ap of/in a/at mess/nn ,/, he/pps hadn't/hvd* even/rb started/vbn his/pp$ workshop/nn and/cc if/cs there/ex was/bedz a/at meadow/nn pond/nn in/in the/at neighborhood/nn he/pps hadn't/hvd* found/vbn it/ppo ./.


	It/pps wasn't/bedz* his/pp$ fault/nn that/cs these/dts things/nns were/bed so/rb ./.
The/at difficulty/nn was/bedz that/cs each/dt day/nn seemed/vbd to/to produce/vb its/pp$ quota/nn of/in details/nns which/wdt must/md be/be cleaned/vbn up/rp immediately/rb ./.


	As/cs a/at result/nn ,/, life/nn had/hvd become/vbn a/at kind/nn of/in continuous/jj make-ready/nn ./.
Once/cs he/pps disposed/vbd of/in these/dts items/nns which/wdt screamed/vbd so/ql harshly/rb for/in attention/nn ,/, he/pps could/md undertake/vb the/at things/nns which/wdt really/rb counted/vbd ./.
Then/rb ,/, at/in last/ap ,/, his/pp$ day/nn would/md fall/vb into/in an/at ordered/vbn pattern/nn and/cc he/pps would/md be/be free/jj to/to read/vb ,/, or/cc garden/vb or/cc just/rb wander/vb through/in the/at woods/nns in/in the/at late/jj afternoon/nn ,/, accompanied/vbn by/in his/pp$ dogs/nns ./.


	His/pp$ dogs/nns ?/. ?/.
He/pps had/hvd almost/rb forgotten/vbn them/ppo ,/, although/cs they/ppss had/hvd played/vbn such/abl an/at important/jj part/nn in/in his/pp$ early/jj dreams/nns ./.
Then/rb they/ppss had/hvd always/rb been/ben romping/vbg around/in him/ppo on/in these/dts walks/nns ,/, yelping/vbg with/in delight/nn ,/, dashing/vbg off/rp into/in the/at bushes/nns on/in fruitless/jj hunting/vbg expeditions/nns ,/, returning/vbg to/to jump/vb up/rp on/in him/ppo triumphantly/rb with/in muddy/jj paws/nns ./.
Dogs/nns did/dod something/pn to/in one's/pn$ ego/nn ./.
They/ppss were/bed constantly/rb assuring/vbg you/ppo that/cs you/ppss were/bed one/cd of/in the/at world's/nn$ great/jj guys/nns ./.
Regardless/rb of/in how/wrb much/ap of/in a/at slob/nn you/ppss knew/vbd yourself/ppl to/to be/be ,/, you/ppss could/md be/be certain/jj they/ppss would/md never/rb find/vb out/rp --/-- and/cc even/rb if/cs they/ppss did/dod it/pps would/md make/vb no/at difference/nn ./.


	Now/rb it/pps became/vbd increasingly/ql apparent/jj that/cs there/ex were/bed to/to be/be no/at dogs/nns in/in the/at picture/nn ./.
What/wdt in/in the/at world/nn were/bed you/ppss going/vbg to/to do/do with/in a/at lot/nn of/in dogs/nns when/wrb you/ppss left/vbd for/in town/nn on/in Monday/nr afternoons/nns ?/. ?/.
You/ppss certainly/rb couldn't/md* take/vb them/ppo into/in the/at little/ap apartment/nn and/cc if/cs you/ppss tried/vbd to/to farm/vb them/ppo out/rp for/in two/cd or/cc three/cd days/nns every/at week/nn they/ppss would/md become/vb so/ql confused/vbn that/cs they/ppss would/md have/hv nervous/jj breakdowns/nns ./.
Why/wrb in/in the/at world/nn couldn't/md* he/pps live/vb in/in one/cd place/nn the/at way/nn everyone/pn else/rb seemed/vbd to/to ?/. ?/.


	It/pps worried/vbd him/ppo ,/, this/dt inability/nn to/to get/vb the/at simplest/jjt things/nns done/vbn in/in the/at course/nn of/in a/at day/nn ./.
He/pps would/md wake/vb up/rp in/in the/at middle/nn of/in the/at night/nn and/cc fret/vb about/in it/ppo ./.
How/wrb in/in the/at world/nn had/hvd he/pps formerly/rb found/vbn time/nn to/to build/vb up/rp a/at business/nn ,/, raise/vb a/at family/nn ,/, be/be on/in half/abn a/at dozen/nn boards/nns ,/, work/vb actively/rb on/in committees/nns and/cc either/cc go/vb out/rp in/in the/at evening/nn or/cc plow/vb through/in the/at contents/nns of/in a/at bulging/vbg brief/nn case/nn ?/. ?/.


	Was/bedz it/pps possible/jj that/cs as/cs people/nns grow/vb older/jjr the/at nature/nn of/in time/nn changed/vbd ?/. ?/.
Could/md it/ppo be/be that/cs it/pps speeded/vbd up/rp for/in the/at aged/vbn in/in some/dti mysterious/jj way/nn ,/, as/cs if/cs a/at bored/vbn universe/nn were/bed skipping/vbg through/in the/at end/nn of/in the/at chapter/nn just/rb to/to get/vb it/ppo over/rp with/rb ?/. ?/.
Or/cc was/bedz the/at answer/nn less/ql metaphysical/jj ?/. ?/.
Did/dod older/jjr people/nns work/vb more/ql slowly/rb ?/. ?/.
Did/dod it/pps take/vb a/at man/nn of/in sixty-five/cd longer/jjr to/to write/vb a/at letter/nn ,/, shave/vb ,/, clean/vb out/rp a/at barn/nn ,/, read/vb a/at newspaper/nn ,/, than/cs a/at man/nn of/in thirty/cd ?/. ?/.
Did/dod men/nns become/vb perfectionists/nns as/cs they/ppss grew/vbd older/jjr ,/, polishing/vbg ,/, polishing/vbg ,/, reluctant/jj to/to let/vb go/vb ?/. ?/.


	It/pps might/md be/be that/cs certain/jj people/nns were/bed born/vbn with/in a/at compulsion/nn to/to complicate/vb their/pp$ lives/nns ,/, while/cs others/nns could/md live/vb blissfully/rb motionless/jj almost/rb indefinitely/rb ,/, like/cs lizards/nns in/in the/at sun/nn ,/, too/ql indolent/jj to/to blink/vb their/pp$ eyes/nns ./.
Perhaps/rb it/pps was/bedz his/pp$ misfortune/nn ,/, or/cc good/jj fortune/nn ,/, whichever/wdt way/nn one/pn looked/vbd at/in it/ppo ,/, to/to belong/vb to/in the/at former/ap group/nn ,/, and/cc he/pps was/bedz struggling/vbg unconsciously/rb to/to build/vb up/rp pressure/nn in/in a/at world/nn which/wdt demanded/vbd none/pn ,/, which/wdt was/bedz positively/rb antagonistic/jj to/in it/ppo ./.


	And/cc then/rb again/rb perhaps/rb the/at reason/nn why/wrb he/pps couldn't/md* find/vb time/nn to/to do/do any/dti of/in the/at things/nns he/pps had/hvd planned/vbn to/to do/do after/in retirement/nn :/: reading/vbg ,/, roaming/vbg ,/, gardening/vbg ,/, lying/vbg on/in his/pp$ back/nn and/cc watching/vbg the/at clouds/nns go/vb by/rb ,/, was/bedz because/cs he/pps didn't/dod* want/vb to/to do/do them/ppo ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at compulsion/nn behind/in them/ppo ./.
They/ppss could/md be/be done/vbn or/cc left/vbn undone/vbn and/cc nobody/pn really/rb gave/vbd a/at damn/nn ./.
During/in all/abn his/pp$ busy/jj life/nn he/pps had/hvd only/rb done/vbn things/nns which/wdt had/hvd to/to be/be done/vbn ./.
This/dt habit/nn had/hvd become/vbn so/ql fixed/vbn over/in the/at years/nns that/cs it/pps seemed/vbd futile/jj to/to do/do anything/pn for/in which/wdt no/at one/pn was/bedz waiting/vbg ./.


	He/pps looked/vbd at/in the/at luminous/jj dial/nn of/in his/pp$ wrist/nn watch/nn ./.
It/pps was/bedz five/cd minutes/nns after/in four/cd ./.
On/in some/dti distant/jj farm/nn a/at rooster/nn crowed/vbd and/cc ,/, far/rb down/in the/at valley/nn ,/, an/at associate/nn answered/vbd ./.
He/pps turned/vbd over/rp impatiently/rb and/cc pulled/vbd the/at sheet/nn over/in his/pp$ head/nn against/in the/at treacherous/jj encroachment/nn of/in the/at dawn/nn ./.




At/in least/ap he/pps could/md buy/vb the/at equipment/nn for/in his/pp$ workshop/nn ./.
Thus/rb committed/vbn ,/, action/nn might/md follow/vb ./.
He/pps went/vbd down/rp to/in Mills/np-tl and/cc-tl Bradley's/np$-tl Hardware/nn-tl Store/nn-tl and/cc bought/vbd a/at full/jj set/nn of/in carpenter's/nn$ tools/nns ,/, including/in a/at rotary/jj power/nn saw/nn and/cc several/ap other/ap pieces/nns of/in power/nn machinery/nn that/wps Mr./np Mills/np said/vbd were/bed essential/jj for/in babbiting/vbg and/cc doweling/vbg ,/, whatever/wdt they/ppss were/bed ./.
He/pps also/rb bought/vbd a/at huge/jj square/nn of/in pegboard/nn for/in hanging/vbg up/rp his/pp$ tools/nns ,/, and/cc lumber/nn for/in his/pp$ workbench/nn ,/, sandpaper/nn and/cc glue/nn and/cc assorted/vbn nails/nns ,/, levels/nns and/cc T/np squares/nns and/cc plumb/nn lines/nns and/cc several/ap gadgets/nns that/cs he/pps had/hvd no/at idea/nn how/wrb to/to use/vb or/cc what/wdt they/ppss were/bed for/in ./.


	``/`` There/rb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Mr./np Mills/np ./.
``/`` That'll/wps+md get/vb you/ppo started/vbn ./.
Best/jjt not/* to/to get/vb everything/pn at/in once/rb ./.
Add/vb things/nns as/cs you/ppss find/vb you/ppo need/vb 'em/ppo ''/'' ./.


	He/pps didn't/dod* even/rb ask/vb the/at cost/nn of/in this/dt collection/nn ./.
After/in all/abn ,/, if/cs you/ppss were/bed going/vbg to/to set/vb up/rp a/at workshop/nn you/ppss had/hvd to/to have/hv the/at proper/jj equipment/nn and/cc that/dt was/bedz that/dt ./.
When/wrb he/pps returned/vbd home/nr ,/, the/at station/nn wagon/nn loaded/vbn with/in tools/nns ,/, Jinny/np had/hvd gone/vbn with/in a/at friend/nn to/in some/dti meeting/nn in/in the/at village/nn ,/, using/vbg the/at recently/rb purchased/vbn second/od car/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz glad/jj ./.
It/pps gave/vbd him/ppo a/at chance/nn to/to unload/vb the/at stuff/nn and/cc get/vb it/ppo down/rp to/in the/at cellar/nn without/in a/at barrage/nn of/in acid/jj comments/nns ./.
He/pps had/hvd made/vbn such/abl a/at fuss/nn about/in buying/vbg that/dt second/od car/nn that/cs he/pps knew/vbd he/pps was/bedz vulnerable/jj ./.


	He/pps piled/vbd everything/pn neatly/rb in/in a/at corner/nn of/in the/at cellar/nn and/cc turned/vbd to/to stare/vb at/in the/at blank/nn stone/nn wall/nn ./.
That/dt was/bedz where/wrb the/at pegboard/nn would/md go/vb on/in which/wdt he/pps would/md hang/vb his/pp$ hand/nn tools/nns ./.
In/in front/nn of/in it/ppo would/md be/be his/pp$ workbench/nn ./.


	The/at old/jj nightmare/nn which/wdt had/hvd caused/vbn him/ppo so/ql many/ap wakeful/jj hours/nns came/vbd charging/vbg in/rp on/in him/ppo once/rb more/rbr ,/, only/rb this/dt time/nn he/pps couldn't/md* pacify/vb it/ppo with/in a/at sleeping/vbg pill/nn and/cc send/vb it/ppo away/rb ./.
How/wrb in/in the/at world/nn did/dod one/pn attach/vb a/at pegboard/nn to/in a/at stone/nn wall/nn ?/. ?/.
How/wrb did/dod one/pn attach/vb anything/pn to/in a/at stone/nn wall/nn ,/, for/in that/dt matter/nn ?/. ?/.
After/in the/at pegboard/nn there/ex would/md be/be the/at paneling/nn ./.
He/pps sat/vbd down/rp on/in an/at old/jj box/nn and/cc focused/vbd on/in the/at problem/nn ./.
Perhaps/rb one/pn bored/vbd holes/nns in/in the/at stone/nn with/in some/dti kind/nn of/in an/at electric/jj gadget/nn ./.
But/cc then/rb ,/, when/wrb you/ppss stuck/vbd things/nns into/in the/at holes/nns ,/, why/wrb didn't/dod* they/ppss come/vb right/ql out/rp again/rb ?/. ?/.
It/pps all/abn seemed/vbd rather/ql hopeless/jj ./.


	He/pps turned/vbd his/pp$ attention/nn to/in the/at workbench/nn ./.
Perhaps/rb that/dt was/bedz the/at first/od thing/nn to/to do/do ./.
A/at workbench/nn had/hvd a/at heavy/jj top/nn and/cc sturdy/jj legs/nns ,/, but/cc how/wrb did/dod you/ppss attach/vb sturdy/jj legs/nns to/in a/at heavy/jj top/nn so/cs that/cs the/at whole/jj thing/nn didn't/dod* wobble/vb like/cs a/at newborn/jj calf/nn and/cc ultimately/rb collapse/vb when/wrb you/ppss leaned/vbd on/in it/ppo ?/. ?/.


	Mr./np Mills/np had/hvd done/vbn some/dti figuring/nn on/in a/at scrap/nn of/in paper/nn and/cc given/vbn him/ppo the/at various/jj kinds/nns of/in boards/nns and/cc two-by-fours/nns which/wdt ,/, properly/rb handled/vbn ,/, would/md ,/, he/pps had/hvd assured/vbn him/ppo ,/, turn/vb into/in a/at workbench/nn ./.
They/ppss lay/vbd on/in the/at cellar/nn floor/nn in/in a/at disorderly/jj pile/nn ./.
Mr./np Crombie/np poked/vbd at/in it/ppo gingerly/rb with/in his/pp$ foot/nn ./.
How/wrb could/md anyone/pn know/vb what/wdt to/to do/do with/in an/at assortment/nn like/cs that/dt ?/. ?/.
Perhaps/rb he/pps had/hvd better/rbr have/hv someone/pn help/vb him/ppo put/vb up/rp the/at pegboard/nn and/cc build/vb the/at workbench/nn --/-- someone/pn who/wps knew/vbd what/wdt he/pps was/bedz about/rb ./.
Then/rb at/in least/ap he/pps would/md have/hv a/at place/nn to/to hang/vb his/pp$ tools/nns and/cc something/pn to/to work/vb on/in ./.
After/in that/dt everything/pn should/md be/be simpler/jjr ./.


	He/pps went/vbd upstairs/rb to/to phone/vb Crumb/np ./.
To/in his/pp$ amazement/nn he/pps reached/vbd him/ppo ./.
Mr./np Crumb/np was/bedz laid/vbn up/rp with/in a/at bad/jj cold/nn ./.
He/pps didn't/dod* seem/vb to/to think/vb that/cs attaching/vbg a/at pegboard/nn to/in a/at stone/nn wall/nn was/bedz much/ap of/in a/at problem/nn and/cc he/pps tossed/vbd off/rp the/at building/nn of/in the/at worktable/nn equally/rb lightly/rb ./.
The/at only/ap trouble/nn was/bedz that/cs he/pps himself/ppl was/bedz tied/vbn up/rp on/in the/at school/nn job/nn ./.
That/dt was/bedz why/wrb he/pps hadn't/hvd* been/ben able/jj to/to finish/vb the/at porch/nn ./.
No/rb ,/, he/pps didn't/dod* know/vb of/in any/dti handyman-carpenter/nn ./.
There/ex wasn't/bedz* any/dti such/jj thing/nn any/dti more/rbr ./.
Carpenters/nns all/abn wanted/vbd steady/jj work/nn and/cc at/in the/at moment/nn every/at mother's/nn$ son/nn for/in twenty/cd miles/nns around/rb that/wps could/md hammer/vb nails/nns for/in twenty-five/cd dollars/nns a/at day/nn was/bedz working/vbg on/in the/at school/nn job/nn ./.


	There/ex was/bedz a/at fellow/nn named/vbn Blatz/np over/in Smithtown/np way/nn ./.
Nobody/pn liked/vbd to/to hire/vb him/ppo because/cs you/ppss never/rb could/md tell/vb when/wrb he/pps was/bedz going/vbg to/to be/be taken/vbn drunk/jj ./.
Mr./np Crumb/np would/md probably/rb see/vb him/ppo at/in Lodge/nn-tl Meeting/nn-tl the/at next/ap night/nn ./.
If/cs he/pps was/bedz sober/jj ,/, which/wdt was/bedz doubtful/jj ,/, he'd/pps+md have/hv him/ppo get/vb in/in touch/nn with/in Mr./np Crombie/np ./.


	Mr./np Blatz/np had/hvd been/ben at/in least/ap sober/jj enough/qlp to/to remember/vb to/to telephone/vb and/cc he/pps turned/vbd out/rp to/to be/be the/at greatest/jjt boon/nn that/wps had/hvd come/vbn into/in Mr./np Crombie's/np$ life/nn since/cs he/pps moved/vbd to/in Highfield/np ,/, in/in spite/in of/in the/at fact/nn that/cs he/pps didn't/dod* work/vb very/ql fast/jj or/cc very/ql long/jj at/in a/at time/nn ,/, and/cc he/pps didn't/dod* like/vb to/to work/vb at/in all/abn unless/cs Mr./np Crombie/np hung/vbd around/rb and/cc talked/vbd to/in him/ppo ./.
He/pps said/vbd he/pps was/bedz the/at lonely/jj type/nn and/cc working/vbg in/in a/at cellar/nn you/ppss saw/vbd funny/jj things/nns coming/vbg out/in of/in the/at cracks/nns in/in the/at wall/nn if/cs they/ppss wasn't/bedz* nobody/pn with/in you/ppo ./.
So/cs Mr./np Crombie/np sat/vbd on/in a/at wooden/jj box/nn and/cc talked/vbd in/in order/nn to/to keep/vb Mr./np Blatz's/np$ mind/nn from/in funny/jj things/nns ./.
At/in the/at same/ap time/nn he/pps watched/vbd carefully/rb to/to see/vb how/wrb one/pn attached/vbd pegboards/nns to/in stone/nn walls/nns ,/, but/cc Mr./np Blatz/np was/bedz usually/rb standing/vbg in/in his/pp$ line/nn of/in vision/nn and/cc it/pps all/abn seemed/vbd so/ql simple/jj that/cs he/pps didn't/dod* like/vb to/to disclose/vb his/pp$ ignorance/nn ./.


	While/cs Mr./np Blatz/np was/bedz putting/vbg up/rp the/at pegboards/nns and/cc starting/vbg the/at workbench/nn ,/, Mr./np Crombie/np told/vbd him/ppo of/in this/dt idea/nn about/in paneling/nn the/at whole/jj end/nn of/in the/at cellar/nn ./.
Mr./np Blatz/np agreed/vbd that/cs this/dt would/md be/be pretty/jj ./.
Without/in further/jjr discussion/nn he/pps appeared/vbd the/at next/ap morning/nn with/in a/at pile/nn of/in boards/nns sticking/vbg over/in the/at end/nn of/in his/pp$ light/nn truck/nn and/cc proceeded/vbd with/in the/at paneling/nn ,/, which/wdt he/pps then/rb stained/vbd and/cc waxed/vbd according/in to/in his/pp$ taste/nn ./.


	``/`` Now/rb ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` we/ppss got/vbd to/to put/vb in/rp some/dti outlets/nns for/in them/dts power/nn tools/nns ;/. ;/.
then/rb a/at couple/nn of/in fluorescent/jj lamps/nns over/in the/at workbench/nn an'/cc I/ppss guess/vb we're/ppss+ber about/rb through/rp down/rp here/rb ''/'' ./.


	It/pps all/abn did/dod look/vb very/ql efficient/jj and/cc shipshape/jj ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at question/nn of/in that/dt ./.
``/`` By/in the/at way/nn ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Mr./np Blatz/np ,/, packing/vbg his/pp$ tools/nns into/in a/at battered/vbn carrier/nn ,/, ``/`` them/dts power/nn tools/nns needs/vbz extra/jj voltage/nn ./.
I/ppss guess/vb you/ppo know/vb about/in that/dt ./.
Before/cs you/ppss use/vb 'em/ppo the/at light/nn company's/nn+hvz got/vbn to/to run/vb in/rp a/at heavy/jj line/nn and/cc you'll/ppss+md need/vb a/at new/jj fuse/nn box/nn for/in the/at extra/jj circuits/nns ./.
That/wps ain't/bez* too/ql bad/jj 'ceptin'/in the/at light/nn company's/nn+bez so/ql busy/jj you/ppss can't/md* ever/rb get/vb 'em/ppo to/to do/do nothin'/pn ''/'' ./.


	Instead/rb of/in being/beg depressed/vbn by/in this/dt news/nn ,/, Mr./np Crombie/np was/bedz actually/rb relieved/vbn ./.
At/in least/ap the/at moment/nn was/bedz postponed/vbn when/wrb he/pps had/hvd to/to face/vb the/at mystery/nn of/in the/at power/nn tools/nns ./.
He/pps followed/vbd Mr./np Blatz/np up/in the/at cellar/nn stairs/nns ./.
As/ql usual/jj ,/, Mrs./np Crombie/np was/bedz standing/vbg in/in the/at midst/nn of/in a/at confusion/nn of/in cooking/vbg utensils/nns ./.
Mr./np Blatz/np sat/vbd down/rp in/in the/at only/rb unoccupied/jj kitchen/nn chair/nn ./.


	``/`` Well/uh ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` got/vbd your/pp$ man/nn fixed/vbn up/rp nice/rb down/rp there/rb ./.
He/pps oughta/md+to be/be able/jj to/to build/vb a/at new/jj house/nn with/in all/abn them/dts contraptions/nns ''/'' ./.
Mr./np Crombie/np watched/vbd his/pp$ wife/nn with/in an/at anxious/jj expression/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss was/bedz just/rb sayin'/vbg to/in him/ppo that/cs I'm/ppss+bem all/ql ready/jj now/rb for/in anything/pn else/rb you/ppss want/vb done/vbn ''/'' ./.
Mr./np Crombie/np couldn't/md* remember/vb his/pp$ saying/vbg any/dti such/jj thing/nn ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, that's/dt+bez wonderful/jj ''/'' ,/, cried/vbd Mrs./np Crombie/np ./.
``/`` I/ppss have/hv a/at thousand/cd things/nns for/in you/ppo to/to do/do ./.
Doors/nns that/dt won't/md* open/vb ,/, and/cc doors/nns that/dt won't/md* close/vb and/cc shelves/nns and/cc broken/vbn --/-- ''/'' 

	``/`` But/cc those/dts are/ber the/at things/nns I/ppss built/vbd the/at workshop/nn for/in ''/'' ,/, protested/vbd Mr./np Crombie/np ./.
``/`` Those/dts are/ber the/at things/nns I/ppss can/md do/do ,/, now/rb that/cs I'm/ppss+bem set/vbn up/rp ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I've/ppss+hv been/ben waiting/vbg to/to get/vb these/dts things/nns done/vbn for/in months/nns ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd ./.
``/`` We/ppss won't/md* live/vb long/jj enough/qlp if/cs I/ppss wait/vb for/in you/ppo ,/, besides/rb which/wdt you/ppss don't/do* need/vb to/to worry/vb --/-- there'll/ex+md be/be plenty/nn more/ap ''/'' ./.
But/cc the/at discussion/nn was/bedz academic/jj ./.
Mr./np Blatz/np was/bedz already/rb taking/vbg measurements/nns for/in a/at shelf/nn above/in the/at kitchen/nn sink/nn ./.




Ambiguity/nn-hl 
Nothing/pn in/in English/np has/hvz been/ben ridiculed/vbn as/ql much/rb as/cs the/at ambiguous/jj use/nn of/in words/nns ,/, unless/cs it/pps be/be the/at ambiguous/jj use/nn of/in sentences/nns ./.
Ben/np Franklin/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Clearly/rb spoken/vbn ,/, Mr./np Fogg/np ./.
You/ppss explain/vb English/np by/in Greek/np ''/'' ./.
Richard/np Brinsley/np Sheridan/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` I/ppss think/vb the/at interpreter/nn is/bez the/at hardest/jjt to/to be/be understood/vbn of/in the/at two/cd ''/'' ./.
And/cc a/at witty/jj American/jj journalist/nn remarked/vbd over/in a/at century/nn ago/rb what/wdt is/bez even/rb more/ql true/jj today/nr ,/, ``/`` Many/abn a/at writer/nn seems/vbz to/to think/vb he/pps is/bez never/rb profound/jj except/in when/wrb he/pps can't/md* understand/vb his/pp$ own/jj meaning/nn ''/'' ./.


	There/ex are/ber many/ap types/nns of/in ambiguity/nn and/cc many/ap of/in them/ppo have/hv been/ben described/vbn by/in rhetoricians/nns under/in such/jj names/nns as/cs amphibology/nn ,/, parisology/nn ,/, and/cc other/ap ologies/nns ./.
In/in common/jj parlance/nn they/ppss would/md be/be described/vbn as/cs misses/nns --/-- misinterpreters/nns ,/, misunderstanders/nns ,/, misdirectors/nns and/cc kindred/nn misdeeds/nns ./.


	One/cd species/nn of/in ambiguity/nn tries/vbz to/to baffle/vb by/in interweaving/vbg repetition/nn ./.
``/`` Did/dod you/ppss or/cc did/dod you/ppss not/* say/vb what/wdt I/ppss said/vbd you/ppo said/vbn ,/, because/cs Jane/np said/vbd you/ppo never/rb said/vbd what/wdt I/ppss said/vbd ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Another/dt woman/nn ,/, addressing/vbg Christmas/np cards/nns ,/, said/vbd to/in her/pp$ husband/nn :/: ``/`` We/ppss sent/vbd them/ppo one/cd last/ap year/nn but/cc they/ppss didn't/dod* send/vb us/ppo one/cd ,/, so/cs they/ppss probably/rb won't/md* send/vb us/ppo one/cd this/dt year/nn because/cs they'll/ppss+md think/vb we/ppss won't/md* send/vb them/ppo one/cd because/cs they/ppss didn't/dod* last/ap year/nn ,/, don't/do* you/ppo think/vb ,/, or/cc shall/md we/ppss ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Such/jj ambiguous/jj exercises/nns compound/vb confusion/nn by/in making/vbg it/ppo worse/jjr compounded/vbn ,/, and/cc they/ppss are/ber sometimes/rb expanded/vbn until/cs the/at cream/nn of/in the/at jest/nn sours/vbz ./.
Ambiguity/nn of/in a/at non-repetitious/jj kind/nn describes/vbz the/at dilemma/nn one/cd girl/nn found/vbd herself/ppl in/in ./.
``/`` I'm/ppss+bem terribly/rb upset/vbn ''/'' ,/, she/pps told/vbd a/at girl-friend/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss wrote/vbd Bill/np in/in my/pp$ last/ap letter/nn to/to forget/vb that/cs I/ppss had/hvd told/vbn him/ppo that/cs I/ppss didn't/dod* mean/vb to/to reconsider/vb my/pp$ decision/nn not/* to/to change/vb my/pp$ mind/nn --/-- and/cc he/pps seems/vbz to/to have/hv misunderstood/vbn me/ppo ''/'' ./.
Evidently/rb Bill/np was/bedz another/dt of/in those/dts men/nns who/wps simply/rb don't/do* understand/vb women/nns ./.


	Another/dt case/nn involves/vbz a/at newspaper/nn reporter/nn who/wps tripped/vbd up/rp a/at politician/nn ./.
``/`` Mr./np Jones/np ,/, you/ppss may/md recall/vb that/cs we/ppss printed/vbd last/ap week/nn your/pp$ denial/nn of/in having/hvg retracted/vbn the/at contradiction/nn of/in your/pp$ original/jj statement/nn ./.
Now/rb would/md you/ppss care/vb to/to have/hv us/ppo say/vb that/cs you/ppss were/bed misquoted/vbn in/in regard/nn to/in it/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Questions/nns like/vb this/dt ,/, framed/vbn in/in verbal/jj fog/nn ,/, are/ber perhaps/rb the/at only/ap kind/nn that/wps have/hv ever/rb stumped/vbn an/at experienced/vbn politician/nn ./.
They/ppss recall/vb Byron's/np$ classic/jj comment/nn :/: ``/`` I/ppss wish/vb he/pps would/md explain/vb his/pp$ explanation/nn ''/'' ./.
Similarly/rb ,/, when/wrb a/at reporter/nn once/rb questioned/vbd Lincoln/np in/in cryptic/jj fashion/nn ,/, Lincoln/np refused/vbd to/to make/vb any/dti further/jjr statement/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss fear/vb explanations/nns explanatory/jj of/in things/nns explained/vbn ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, leaving/vbg the/at biter/nn bit/vbn --/-- and/cc bitter/jj ./.


	The/at obscurity/nn of/in politicians/nns may/md not/* always/rb be/be as/ql innocent/jj as/cs it/pps looks/vbz ./.
``/`` Senator/nn-tl ''/'' ,/, said/vbd an/at interviewer/nn ,/, ``/`` your/pp$ constituents/nns can't/md* understand/vb from/in your/pp$ speech/nn last/ap night/nn just/rb how/wrb you/ppss stand/vb on/in the/at question/nn ''/'' ./.
``/`` Good/jj ''/'' !/. !/.
Replied/vbd the/at Senator/nn-tl ./.
``/`` It/pps took/vbd me/ppo five/cd hours/nns to/to write/vb it/ppo that/dt way/nn ''/'' ./.


	The/at misplaced/vbn modifier/nn is/bez another/dt species/nn more/ql honored/vbn in/in the/at observance/nn of/in obscurity/nn than/cs in/in the/at breach/nn ./.
This/dt creates/vbz an/at amusing/jj effect/nn because/cs its/pp$ position/nn in/in a/at sentence/nn seems/vbz to/to make/vb it/pps apply/vb to/in the/at wrong/jj word/nn ./.
A/at verse/nn familiar/jj to/in all/abn grammarians/nns is/bez the/at quatrain/nn :/: ``/`` I/ppss saw/vbd a/at man/nn once/rb beat/vb his/pp$ wife/nn When/wrb on/in a/at drunken/vbn spree/nn ./.
Now/rb can/md you/ppss tell/vb me/ppo who/wps was/bedz drunk/jj --/-- The/at man/nn ,/, his/pp$ wife/nn ,/, or/cc me/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	The/at ``/`` wooden-leg/nn ''/'' gag/nn of/in vaudeville/nn ,/, another/dt standby/nn of/in this/dt sort/nn ,/, had/hvd endless/jj variations/nns ./.


	``/`` There's/ex+bez a/at man/nn outside/rb with/in a/at wooden/jj leg/nn named/vbn Smith/np ''/'' ./.
``/`` What's/wdt+bez the/at name/nn of/in his/pp$ other/ap leg/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Another/dt stock/nn vaudeville/nn gag/nn ran/vbd :/: ``/`` Mother/nn is/bez home/nr sick/jj in/in bed/nn with/in the/at doctor/nn ''/'' ./.


	When/wrb radio/nn came/vbd in/rp ,/, it/pps continued/vbd the/at misplaced/vbn modifier/nn in/in its/pp$ routines/nns as/cs a/at standard/jj device/nn ./.


	``/`` Do/do you/ppo see/vb that/dt pretty/jj girl/nn standing/vbg next/in to/in the/at car/nn with/in slacks/nns on/rp ''/'' ?/. ?/.
``/`` I/ppss see/vb the/at girl/nn but/cc I/ppss don't/do* see/vb the/at car/nn with/in slacks/nns on/rp ''/'' ./.


	In/in recent/jj years/nns gagwriters/nns have/hv discovered/vbn this/dt brand/nn of/in blunder/nn and/cc thus/rb the/at misplaced/vbn modifier/nn has/hvz acquired/vbn a/at new/jj habitat/nn in/in the/at gagline/nn ./.
In/in one/cd cartoon/nn a/at family/nn is/bez shown/vbn outside/in a/at theater/nn with/in the/at head/nn of/in the/at family/nn addressing/vbg the/at doorman/nn :/: ``/`` Excuse/vb me/ppo ,/, but/cc when/wrb we/ppss came/vbd out/rp we/ppss found/vbd that/cs we/ppss had/hvd left/vbn my/pp$ daughter's/nn$ handbag/nn and/cc my/pp$ wife's/nn$ behind/rb ''/'' ./.


	Journalism/nn supplies/vbz us/ppo with/in an/at endless/jj run/nn of/in such/jj slips/nns ./.
Not/* long/jj ago/rb a/at newspaper/nn advised/vbd those/dts taking/vbg part/nn in/in a/at contest/nn that/cs ``/`` snapshots/nns must/md be/be of/in a/at person/nn not/* larger/jjr than/cs Af/nn inches/nns ''/'' ./.


	Classified/vbn ads/nns are/ber also/rb chockfull/jj of/in misrelated/vbn constructions/nns ./.
Readers/nns of/in the/at Reader's/nn$-tl Digest/nn-tl are/ber familiar/jj with/in such/jj items/nns which/wdt often/rb appear/vb in/in its/pp$ lists/nns of/in verbal/jj slips/nns ,/, like/cs the/at ad/nn in/in a/at California/np paper/nn that/wps advertised/vbd ``/`` House/nn for/in rent/nn ./.
View/nn takes/vbz in/in five/cd counties/nns ,/, two/cd bedrooms/nns ''/'' ./.


	Since/cs brevity/nn is/bez the/at soul/nn of/in ambiguity/nn as/ql well/rb as/cs wit/nn ,/, newspaper/nn headlines/nns continually/rb provide/vb us/ppo with/in amusing/jj samples/nns ./.
``/`` Officials/nns Meet/vb on/in rubbish/nn ./.
Many/ap Shapes/nns in/in bathtubs/nns ./.
Son/nn and/cc Daughter/nn-tl of/in Local/jj Couple/nn Married/vbn ''/'' ./.


	Apart/rb from/in misplaced/vbn modifiers/nns and/cc headlinese/nn ,/, journalism/nn contributes/vbz a/at wide/jj variety/nn of/in comic/jj ambiguities/nns in/in both/abx editorial/jj and/cc advertising/vbg matter/nn ./.


	A/at weekly/rb newspaper/nn reported/vbd a/at local/jj romance/nn :/: ``/`` and/cc the/at couple/nn were/bed married/vbn last/ap Saturday/nr ,/, thus/rb ending/vbg a/at friendship/nn which/wdt began/vbd in/in their/pp$ schooldays/nns ''/'' ./.


	An/at item/nn in/in the/at letters/nns column/nn of/in a/at newspaper/nn renewed/vbd a/at subscription/nn ,/, adding/vbg :/: ``/`` I/ppss personally/rb enjoy/vb your/pp$ newspaper/nn as/ql much/rb as/cs my/pp$ husband/nn ''/'' ./.


	Then/rb there/ex was/bedz the/at caterer's/nn$ ad/nn which/wdt read/vbd :/: ``/`` are/ber you/ppss getting/vbg married/vbn or/cc having/hvg an/at affair/nn ?/. ?/.
We/ppss have/hv complete/jj facilities/nns to/to accommodate/vb 200/cd people/nns ''/'' ./.


	The/at newspaper/nn too/rb is/bez the/at favorite/jj habitat/nn of/in the/at anatomical/nn ./.
This/dt slip/nn is/bez so-called/jj because/cs its/pp$ semi-ambiguous/jj English/np always/rb seems/vbz to/to refer/vb to/in a/at person's/nn$ anatomy/nn but/cc never/rb quite/rb means/vbz what/wdt it/pps seems/vbz to/to say/vb ./.
Samples/nns :/: He/pps walked/vbd in/rp upon/in her/pp$ invitation/nn ./.
She/pps kissed/vbd him/ppo passionately/rb upon/in his/pp$ reappearance/nn ./.
He/pps kissed/vbd her/ppo back/rb ./.


	Not/* without/in good/jj reason/nn has/hvz the/at anatomical/nn been/ben called/vbn jocular/jj journalese/nn ./.
In/in news/nn items/nns a/at man/nn is/bez less/ql often/rb shot/vbn in/in the/at body/nn or/cc head/nn than/cs in/in the/at suburbs/nns ./.
``/`` While/cs Henry/np Morgan/np was/bedz escorting/vbg Miss/np Vera/np Green/np from/in the/at church/nn social/nn last/ap Saturday/nr night/nn ,/, a/at savage/jj dog/nn attacked/vbd them/ppo and/cc bit/vbd Mr./np Morgan/np on/in the/at public/jj square/nn ''/'' ./.


	Such/jj items/nns recall/vb the/at California/np journalist/nn who/wps reported/vbd an/at accident/nn involving/in a/at movie/nn star/nn :/: ``/`` The/at area/nn in/in which/wdt Miss/np N/nn-tl --/-- was/bedz injured/vbn is/bez spectacularly/rb scenic/jj ''/'' ./.


	The/at double/jj meaning/nn in/in the/at anatomical/nn made/vbd it/ppo a/at familiar/jj vaudeville/nn device/nn ,/, as/cs in/in the/at gags/nns of/in Weber/np and/cc Fields/np ./.
When/wrb a/at witness/nn at/in court/nn was/bedz asked/vbn if/cs he/pps had/hvd been/ben kicked/vbn in/in the/at ensuing/vbg rumpus/nn ,/, he/pps replied/vbd ,/, ``/`` No/rb ,/, it/pps was/bedz in/in the/at stomach/nn ''/'' ./.
Strangely/rb enough/qlp ,/, this/dt always/rb brought/vbd the/at house/nn down/rp ./.


	Apart/rb from/in journalese/nn and/cc vaudeville/nn gags/nns ,/, the/at anatomical/nn is/bez also/rb found/vbn in/in jocular/jj literature/nn ./.
A/at conscientious/jj girl/nn became/vbd the/at secretary/nn of/in a/at doctor/nn ./.
Her/pp$ first/od day/nn at/in work/nn she/pps was/bedz puzzled/vbn by/in an/at entry/nn in/in the/at doctor's/nn$ notes/nns on/in an/at emergency/nn case/nn ./.
It/pps read/vbd :/: ``/`` Shot/vbn in/in the/at lumbar/jj region/nn ''/'' ./.
After/in a/at moment/nn of/in thought/nn ,/, her/pp$ mind/nn cleared/vbd and/cc ,/, in/in the/at interest/nn of/in clarity/nn ,/, she/pps typed/vbd into/in the/at record/nn :/: ``/`` Shot/vbn in/in the/at woods/nns ''/'' ./.


	There/ex are/ber many/ap grammatical/jj misconstructions/nns other/ap than/in dangling/vbg modifiers/nns and/cc anatomicals/nns which/wdt permit/vb two/cd different/jj interpretations/nns ./.
At/in the/at home/nr of/in a/at gourmet/nn the/at new/jj maid/nn was/bedz instructed/vbn in/in the/at fine/jj points/nns of/in serving/vbg ./.
``/`` I/ppss want/vb the/at fish/nn served/vbn whole/jj ,/, with/in head/nn and/cc tail/nn ''/'' ,/, the/at epicure/nn explained/vbd ,/, ``/`` and/cc serve/vb it/ppo with/in lemon/nn in/in mouth/nn ''/'' ./.
The/at maid/nn demurred/vbd ./.
``/`` That's/dt+bez silly/jj --/-- lemon/nn in/in mouth/nn ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd ./.
But/cc since/cs the/at gourmet/nn insisted/vbd that/cs it/pps is/bez done/vbn that/dt way/nn at/in the/at most/ql fashionable/jj dinners/nns ,/, the/at girl/nn reluctantly/rb agreed/vbd ./.
So/cs she/pps brought/vbd the/at fish/nn in/in whole/jj ,/, and/cc she/pps carried/vbd a/at lemon/nn in/in her/pp$ mouth/nn ./.


	Another/dt specimen/nn of/in such/jj double-entendre/nn is/bez illustrated/vbn by/in a/at woman/nn in/in a/at department/nn store/nn ./.
She/pps said/vbd to/in the/at saleslady/nn ,/, ``/`` I/ppss want/vb a/at dress/nn to/to put/vb on/rp around/in the/at house/nn ''/'' ./.
The/at puzzled/vbn saleslady/nn inquired/vbd ,/, ``/`` How/wrb large/jj is/bez your/pp$ house/nn ,/, Madam/nn-tl ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	This/dt saleslady/nn was/bedz a/at failure/nn in/in the/at dress/nn department/nn and/cc was/bedz transferred/vbn to/in the/at shoe/nn department/nn ./.
When/wrb a/at customer/nn asked/vbd for/in alligator/nn shoes/nns ,/, she/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` What/wdt size/nn is/bez your/pp$ alligator/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	The/at comic/jj indefinite/nn comprises/vbz an/at extensive/jj class/nn of/in comedy/nn ./.
One/cd species/nn is/bez restricted/vbn to/in statements/nns which/wdt are/ber neither/dtx explicit/jj nor/cc precise/jj regarding/in a/at particular/jj person/nn ,/, place/nn ,/, time/nn or/cc thing/nn ./.
A/at woman/nn met/vbd a/at famous/jj author/nn at/in a/at literary/jj tea/nn ./.
``/`` Oh/uh ,/, I'm/ppss+bem so/ql delighted/vbn to/to meet/vb you/ppo ''/'' ,/, she/pps gushed/vbd ./.
``/`` It/pps was/bedz only/rb the/at other/ap day/nn that/cs I/ppss saw/vbd something/pn of/in yours/pp$$ ,/, about/in something/pn or/cc other/ap ,/, in/in some/dti magazine/nn ''/'' ./.


	This/dt baffling/jj lack/nn of/in distinct/jj details/nns recalls/vbz the/at secretary/nn whose/wp$ employer/nn was/bedz leaving/vbg the/at office/nn and/cc told/vbd her/ppo what/wdt to/to answer/vb if/cs anyone/pn called/vbd in/in his/pp$ absence/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss may/md be/be back/rb ''/'' ,/, he/pps explained/vbd ,/, ``/`` and/cc then/rb again/rb ,/, I/ppss may/md not/* ''/'' ./.
The/at girl/nn nodded/vbd understandingly/rb ./.
``/`` Yes/rb ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` is/bez that/dt definite/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	An/at old-fashioned/jj mother/nn said/vbd to/in her/pp$ modern/jj daughter/nn ,/, ``/`` You/ppss must/md have/hv gotten/vbn in/rp quite/ql late/jj last/ap night/nn ,/, dear/jj ./.
Where/wrb were/bed you/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.
The/at daughter/nn replied/vbd ,/, ``/`` Oh/uh ,/, I/ppss had/hvd dinner/nn with/in --/-- well/uh ,/, you/ppss don't/do* know/vb him/ppo but/cc he's/pps+bez awfully/ql nice/jj --/-- and/cc we/ppss went/vbd to/in a/at couple/nn of/in places/nns --/-- I/ppss don't/do* suppose/vb you've/ppss+hv heard/vbn of/in them/ppo --/-- and/cc we/ppss finished/vbd up/rp at/in a/at cute/jj little/ap night/nn club/nn --/-- I/ppss forget/vb the/at name/nn of/in it/ppo ./.
Why/wrb ,/, it's/pps+bez all/ql right/jj ,/, isn't/bez* it/pps ,/, Mother/nn-tl ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Her/pp$ woolly-minded/jj parent/nn agreed/vbd ./.
``/`` Of/in course/nn ,/, dear/jj ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd ./.
``/`` It's/pps+bez only/rb that/cs I/ppss like/vb to/to know/vb where/wrb you/ppss go/vb ''/'' ./.


	No/at less/ql ambiguous/jj was/bedz the/at indefinity/nn of/in a/at certain/jj clergyman's/nn$ sermon/nn ./.
``/`` Dearly/rb beloved/jj ''/'' ,/, he/pps preached/vbd ,/, ``/`` unless/cs you/ppss repent/vb of/in your/pp$ sins/nns in/in a/at measure/nn ,/, and/cc become/vb converted/vbn to/in a/at degree/nn ,/, you/ppss will/md ,/, I/ppss regret/vb to/to say/vb ,/, be/be damned/vbn to/in a/at more/ql or/cc less/ql extent/nn ''/'' ./.
This/dt clergyman/nn should/md have/hv referred/vbn to/in Shakespeare's/np$ dictum/nn :/: ``/`` So-so/rb is/bez a/at good/jj ,/, very/ql good/jj ,/, very/ql excellent/jj maxim/nn ./.
And/cc yet/rb it/pps is/bez not/* ./.
It/pps is/bez but/cc so-so/jj ''/'' ./.


	Indefinite/jj reference/nn also/rb carries/vbz double-meaning/nn where/wrb an/at allusion/nn to/in one/cd person/nn or/cc thing/nn seems/vbz to/to refer/vb to/in another/dt ./.
A/at news/nn item/nn described/vbd the/at launching/nn of/in a/at ship/nn :/: ``/`` Completing/vbg the/at ceremony/nn ,/, the/at beautiful/jj movie/nn star/nn smashed/vbd a/at bottle/nn of/in champagne/nn over/in her/pp$ stern/nn as/cs she/pps slid/vbd gracefully/rb down/in the/at ways/nns into/in the/at sea/nn ''/'' ./.


	This/dt is/bez not/* unlike/in the/at order/nn received/vbn by/in the/at sergeant/nn of/in an/at army/nn motor/nn pool/nn :/: ``/`` Four/cd trucks/nns to/in Fort/nn-tl Mason/np-tl gym/nn ,/, 7:30/cd tonight/nr ,/, for/in hauling/vbg girls/nns to/in dance/nn ./.
The/at bodies/nns must/md be/be cleaned/vbn and/cc seats/nns wiped/vbn off/rp ''/'' ./.


	A/at politician/nn was/bedz approached/vbn by/in a/at man/nn seeking/vbg the/at office/nn of/in a/at minor/jj public/jj official/nn who/wps had/hvd just/rb died/vbn ./.
``/`` What/wdt are/ber my/pp$ chances/nns for/in taking/vbg Joe's/np$ place/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
He/pps asked/vbd ./.
``/`` If/cs you/ppss can/md fix/vb it/ppo up/rp with/in the/at undertaker/nn ''/'' ,/, returned/vbd the/at politician/nn ,/, ``/`` it's/pps+bez all/ql right/jj with/in me/ppo ''/'' ./.


	The/at manager/nn of/in a/at movie/nn theater/nn received/vbd a/at telephone/nn call/nn from/in a/at woman/nn who/wps was/bedz equally/ql indefinite/jj ./.
``/`` What/wdt have/hv you/ppss got/vbn on/rp today/nr ''/'' ?/. ?/.
She/pps inquired/vbd ./.
``/`` A/at blue/jj suit/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps answered/vbd ./.
``/`` Who's/wps+bez in/in it/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.
She/pps continued/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss am/bem ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ./.
There/ex was/bedz a/at short/jj pause/nn for/in reflection/nn ./.
``/`` Oh/uh ''/'' ,/, said/vbd the/at woman/nn ,/, ``/`` I've/ppss+hv seen/vbn that/dt picture/nn already/rb ''/'' ./.


	Another/dt brand/nn of/in indefinite/jj reference/nn arises/vbz out/in of/in the/at use/nn of/in the/at double/jj verb/nn ./.
When/wrb a/at question/nn contains/vbz two/cd verbs/nns ,/, the/at response/nn does/doz not/* make/vb clear/jj which/wdt of/in them/ppo is/bez being/beg answered/vbn ./.


	The/at moonlit/jj night/nn was/bedz made/vbn for/in romance/nn ,/, and/cc he/pps had/hvd been/ben looking/vbg at/in her/ppo soulfully/rb for/in some/dti time/nn ./.
Finally/rb he/pps asked/vbd ,/, ``/`` Do/do you/ppss object/vb to/in petting/vbg ''/'' ?/. ?/.
``/`` That's/dt+bez one/cd thing/nn I've/ppss+hv never/rb done/vbn ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd promptly/rb ./.
He/pps thought/vbd a/at moment/nn ,/, then/rb inquired/vbd ,/, ``/`` You/ppss mean/vb petted/vbn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
``/`` No/rb ''/'' ,/, she/pps smiled/vbd ,/, ``/`` objected/vbd ''/'' ./.


	Replies/nns to/in requests/nns for/in character/nn reference/nn are/ber notorious/jj for/in their/pp$ evasive/jj double-entendre/nn ./.
It/pps would/md be/be hard/jj to/to find/vb anything/pn more/ql equivocal/jj than/cs :/: ``/`` I/ppss cannot/md* recommend/vb him/ppo too/ql highly/rb ''/'' ./.


	Another/dt less/ql ambiguous/jj case/nn read/vbd as/cs follows/vbz :/: ``/`` The/at bearer/nn of/in this/dt letter/nn has/hvz served/vbn me/ppo for/in two/cd years/nns to/in his/pp$ complete/jj satisfaction/nn ./.
If/cs you/ppss are/ber thinking/vbg of/in giving/vbg him/ppo a/at berth/nn ,/, be/be sure/jj to/to make/vb it/ppo a/at wide/jj one/pn ''/'' ./.


	In/in the/at comedy/nn of/in indefinite/jj reference/nn ,/, it-wit/nn occupies/vbz a/at prominent/jj place/nn because/rb of/in its/pp$ frequent/jj occurrence/nn ./.
Ambiguity/nn arises/vbz when/wrb the/at pronoun/nn it/pps carries/vbz a/at twofold/jj reference/nn ./.


	Two/cd friends/nns were/bed talking/vbg ./.
One/cd said/vbd ,/, ``/`` When/wrb I/ppss get/vb a/at cold/nn I/ppss buy/vb a/at bottle/nn of/in whiskey/nn for/in it/ppo ,/, and/cc within/in a/at few/ap hours/nns it's/pps+hvz gone/vbn ''/'' ./.
The/at speaker/nn referred/vbd to/in the/at whiskey/nn but/cc his/pp$ friend/nn thought/vbd he/pps meant/vbd the/at cold/nn ./.


	It-wit/nn is/bez a/at misnomer/nn because/cs it/pps covers/vbz slips/nns as/ql well/rb as/cs wit/nn ./.
An/at excited/vbn woman/nn was/bedz making/vbg an/at emergency/nn call/nn over/in the/at phone/nn :/: ``/`` Doctor/nn-tl ,/, please/uh come/vb over/rp right/ql away/rb ./.
My/pp$ husband/nn is/bez in/in great/jj pain/nn ./.



	I/ppss called/vbd the/at other/ap afternoon/nn on/in my/pp$ old/jj friend/nn ,/, Graves/np Moreland/np ,/, the/at Anglo-American/jj literary/jj critic/nn --/-- his/pp$ mother/nn was/bedz born/vbn in/in Ohio/np --/-- who/wps lives/vbz alone/rb in/in a/at fairy-tale/nn cottage/nn on/in the/at Upson/np Downs/np ,/, raising/vbg hell/nn and/cc peacocks/nns ,/, the/at former/ap only/rb when/wrb the/at venerable/jj gentleman/nn becomes/vbz an/at angry/jj old/jj man/nn about/in the/at state/nn of/in literature/nn or/cc something/pn else/rb that/dt is/bez dwindling/vbg and/cc diminishing/vbg ,/, such/jj as/cs human/nn stature/nn ,/, hope/nn ,/, and/cc humor/nn ./.


	My/pp$ unscientific/jj friend/nn does/doz not/* believe/vb that/cs human/nn stature/nn is/bez measurable/jj in/in terms/nns of/in speed/nn ,/, momentum/nn ,/, weightlessness/nn ,/, or/cc distance/nn from/in earth/nn ,/, but/cc is/bez a/at matter/nn of/in the/at development/nn of/in the/at human/nn mind/nn ./.
After/cs Gagarin/np became/vbd the/at Greatest/jjt-tl Man/nn-tl in/in-tl the/at-tl World/nn-tl ,/, for/in a/at nation/nn that/wps does/doz not/* believe/vb in/in the/at cult/nn of/in personality/nn or/cc in/in careerism/nn ,/, Moreland/np wrote/vbd me/ppo a/at letter/nn in/in which/wdt he/pps said/vbd :/: ``/`` I/ppss am/bem not/* interested/vbn in/in how/ql long/jj a/at bee/nn can/md live/vb in/in a/at vacuum/nn ,/, or/cc how/ql far/jj it/pps can/md fly/vb ./.
A/at bee's/nn$ place/nn is/bez in/in the/at hive/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss have/hv come/vbn to/to talk/vb with/in you/ppo about/in the/at future/nn of/in humor/nn and/cc comedy/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss told/vbd him/ppo ,/, at/in which/wdt he/pps started/vbd slightly/rb ,/, and/cc then/rb made/vbd us/ppo each/dt a/at stiff/jj drink/nn ,/, with/in a/at trembling/vbg hand/nn ./.


	``/`` I/ppss seem/vb to/to remember/vb ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` that/cs in/in an/at interview/nn ten/cd years/nns ago/rb you/ppss gave/vbd humor/nn and/cc comedy/nn five/cd years/nns to/to live/vb ./.
Did/dod you/ppo go/vb to/in their/pp$ funeral/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss was/bedz wrong/jj ''/'' ,/, I/ppss admitted/vbd ./.
``/`` Comedy/nn didn't/dod* die/vb ,/, it/pps just/rb went/vbd crazy/jj ./.
It/pps has/hvz identified/vbn itself/ppl with/in the/at very/ap tension/nn and/cc terror/nn it/pps once/rb did/dod so/ql much/rb to/to alleviate/vb ./.
We/ppss now/rb have/hv not/* only/rb what/wdt has/hvz been/ben called/vbn over/in here/rb the/at comedy/nn of/in menace/nn but/cc we/ppss also/rb have/hv horror/nn jokes/nns ,/, magazines/nns known/vbn as/cs Horror/nn-tl Comics/nns-tl ,/, and/cc sick/jj comedians/nns ./.
There/ex are/ber even/rb publications/nns called/vbn Sick/jj and/cc Mad/jj ./.
The/at Zeitgeist/fw-nn is/bez not/* crazy/jj as/cs a/at loon/nn or/cc mad/jj as/cs a/at March/np hare/nn ;/. ;/.
it/pps is/bez manic/jj as/cs a/at man/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss woke/vbd up/rp this/dt morning/nn ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` paraphrasing/vbg Lewis/np Carroll/np ./.
Do/do you/ppss want/vb to/to hear/vb the/at paraphrase/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Can/md I/ppss bear/vb it/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.
I/ppss asked/vbd ,/, taking/vbg a/at final/jj gulp/nn of/in my/pp$ drink/nn ,/, and/cc handing/vbg him/ppo the/at empty/jj glass/nn ./.


	``/`` Just/rb barely/rb ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, and/cc repeated/vbd his/pp$ paraphrase/nn :/: ``/`` The/at time/nn has/hvz come/vbn ''/'' ,/, the/at walrus/nn said/vbd ,/, ``/`` To/to speak/vb of/in manic/jj things/nns ,/, Of/in shots/nns and/cc shouts/nns ,/, and/cc sealing/vbg dooms/nns Of/in commoners/nns and/cc kings/nns ''/'' ./.


	Moreland/np fixed/vbd us/ppo each/dt another/dt drink/nn ,/, and/cc said/vbd ,/, ``/`` For/in God's/np$ sake/nn ,/, tell/vb me/ppo something/pn truly/rb amusing/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I'll/ppss+md try/vb ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ,/, and/cc sat/vbd for/in a/at moment/nn thinking/vbg ./.
``/`` Oh/uh yes/rb ,/, the/at other/ap day/nn I/ppss reread/vb some/dti of/in Emerson's/np$ English/jj-tl Traits/nns-tl ,/, and/cc there/ex was/bedz an/at anecdote/nn about/in a/at group/nn of/in English/nps and/cc Americans/nps visiting/vbg Germany/np ,/, more/ap than/in a/at hundred/cd years/nns ago/rb ./.
In/in the/at railway/nn station/nn at/in Berlin/np ,/, a/at uniformed/jj attendant/nn was/bedz chanting/vbg ,/, '/' Foreigners/nns this/dt way/nn !/. !/.
Foreigners/nns this/dt way/nn '/' !/. !/.
One/cd woman/nn --/-- she/pps could/md have/hv been/ben either/cc English/jj or/cc American/jj --/-- went/vbd up/rp to/in him/ppo and/cc said/vbd ,/, '/' But/cc you/ppss are/ber the/at foreigners/nns '/' ''/'' ./.
I/ppss took/vbd a/at deep/jj breath/nn and/cc an/at even/rb deeper/jjr swallow/nn of/in my/pp$ drink/nn ,/, and/cc said/vbd ,/, ``/`` I/ppss admit/vb that/cs going/vbg back/rb to/in Ralph/np Waldo/np Emerson/np for/in humor/nn is/bez like/cs going/vbg to/in a/at modern/jj musical/jj comedy/nn for/in music/nn and/cc comedy/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` What's/wdt+bez the/at matter/nn with/in the/at music/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Moreland/np asked/vbd ./.


	``/`` It/pps doesn't/doz* drown/vb out/rp the/at dialogue/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss explained/vbd ./.


	``/`` Let's/vb+ppo talk/vb about/in books/nns ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss am/bem told/vbn that/cs in/in America/np you/ppss have/hv non-books/nns by/in non-writers/nns ,/, brought/vbn out/rp by/in non-publishers/nns for/in non-readers/nns ./.
Is/bez it/pps all/abn non-fiction/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` There/ex is/bez non-fiction/nn and/cc non/jj non-fiction/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` Speaking/vbg of/in nonism/nn :/: the/at other/ap day/nn ,/, in/in a/at story/nn about/in a/at sit-down/nn demonstration/nn ,/, the/at Paris/np-tl Herald/nn-tl Tribune/nn-tl wrote/vbd ,/, '/' The/at non-violence/nn became/vbd noisier/jjr ./.
And/cc then/rb Eichmann/np was/bedz quoted/vbn as/cs saying/vbg ,/, in/in non-English/nn ,/, that/cs Hitler's/np$ plan/nn to/to exterminate/vb the/at Jews/nps was/bedz nonsense/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` If/cs we/ppss cannot/md* tell/vb evil/nn ,/, horror/nn ,/, and/cc insanity/nn from/in nonsense/nn ,/, what/wdt is/bez the/at future/nn of/in humor/nn and/cc comedy/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Moreland/np asked/vbd ,/, grimly/rb ./.


	``/`` Cryptic/jj ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` They/ppss require/vb ,/, for/in existence/nn ,/, a/at brave/jj spirit/nn and/cc a/at high/jj heart/nn ,/, and/cc where/wrb do/do you/ppss find/vb these/dts ?/. ?/.
In/in our/pp$ present/jj era/nn of/in Science/nn and/cc Angst/fw-nn ,/, the/at heart/nn has/hvz been/ben downgraded/vbn ,/, to/to use/vb one/cd of/in our/pp$ popular/jj retrogressive/jj verbs/nns ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss know/vb what/wdt you/ppss mean/vb ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np sighed/vbd ./.
``/`` Last/ap year/nn your/pp$ Tennessee/np Williams/np told/vbd our/pp$ Dilys/np Powell/np ,/, in/in a/at television/nn program/nn ,/, that/cs it/pps is/bez the/at task/nn of/in the/at playwright/nn to/to throw/vb light/nn into/in the/at dark/jj corners/nns of/in the/at human/nn heart/nn ./.
Like/cs almost/rb everybody/pn else/rb ,/, he/pps confused/vbd the/at heart/nn ,/, both/abx as/cs organ/nn and/cc as/cs symbol/nn ,/, with/in the/at disturbed/vbn psyche/nn ,/, the/at deranged/vbn glands/nns ,/, and/cc the/at jumpy/jj central/jj nervous/jj system/nn ./.
I'm/ppss+bem not/* pleading/vbg for/in the/at heart/nn that/wps leaps/vbz up/rp when/wrb it/pps beholds/vbz a/at rainbow/nn in/in the/at sky/nn ,/, or/cc for/in the/at heart/nn that/wps with/in rapture/nn fills/vbz and/cc dances/vbz with/in the/at daffodils/nns ./.
The/at sentimental/jj pure/jj heart/nn of/in Galahad/np is/bez gone/vbn with/in the/at knightly/jj years/nns ,/, but/cc I/ppss still/rb believe/vb in/in the/at heart/nn of/in the/at George/np Meredith/np character/nn that/wps was/bedz not/* made/vbn of/in the/at stuff/nn that/wps breaks/vbz ''/'' ./.


	``/`` We/ppss no/at longer/jjr have/hv Tom/np Moore's/np$ and/cc Longfellow's/np$ '/' heart/nn for/in any/dti fate/nn '/' ,/, either/rb ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.


	``/`` Moore/np and/cc Longfellow/np didn't/dod* have/hv the/at fate/nn that/wps faces/vbz us/ppo ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` One/cd day/nn our/pp$ species/nn promises/vbz co-existence/nn ,/, and/cc the/at next/ap day/nn it/pps threatens/vbz co-extinction/nn ''/'' ./.
We/ppss sat/vbd for/in a/at while/nn drinking/vbg in/in silence/nn ./.


	``/`` The/at heart/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd finally/rb ,/, ``/`` is/bez now/rb either/cc in/in the/at throat/nn or/cc the/at mouth/nn or/cc the/at stomach/nn or/cc the/at shoes/nns ./.
When/wrb it/pps was/bedz worn/vbn in/in the/at breast/nn ,/, or/cc even/rb on/in the/at sleeve/nn ,/, we/ppss at/in least/ap knew/vbd where/wrb it/pps was/bedz ''/'' ./.
There/ex was/bedz a/at long/jj silence/nn ./.


	``/`` You/ppss have/hv visited/vbn England/np five/cd times/nns in/in the/at past/jj quarter-century/nn ,/, I/ppss believe/vb ''/'' ,/, my/pp$ host/nn said/vbd ./.
``/`` What/wdt has/hvz impressed/vbn you/ppo most/rbt on/in your/pp$ present/jj visit/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss would/md say/vb depressed/vbn ,/, not/* impressed/vbn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss told/vbd him/ppo ./.
``/`` I/ppss should/md say/vb it/pps is/bez the/at turning/nn of/in courts/nns of/in law/nn into/in veritable/jj theatres/nns for/in sex/nn dramas/nns ,/, involving/vbg clergymen/nns and/cc parishioners/nns ,/, psychiatrists/nns and/cc patients/nns ./.
It/pps is/bez becoming/vbg harder/rbr and/cc harder/rbr to/to tell/vb law/nn courts/nns and/cc political/jj arenas/nns from/in the/at modern/jj theatre/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Do/do you/ppo think/vb we/ppss need/vb a/at new/jj Henry/np James/np to/to re-explore/vb the/at Anglo-American/jj scene/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
He/pps asked/vbd ./.
``/`` Or/cc perhaps/rb a/at new/jj Noel/np Coward/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` But/cc you/ppss must/md have/hv heard/vbn it/ppo said/vbn that/cs the/at drawing-room/nn disappeared/vbd forever/rb with/in the/at somnolent/jj years/nns of/in James/np and/cc the/at antic/jj heyday/nn of/in Coward/np ./.
I/ppss myself/ppl hear/vb it/ppo said/vbn constantly/rb --/-- in/in drawing-rooms/nns ./.
In/in them/ppo ,/, there/ex is/bez usually/rb a/at group/nn of/in Anglo-Americans/nps with/in tragicomic/jj problems/nns ,/, worthy/jj of/in being/beg explored/vbn either/cc in/in the/at novel/nn or/cc in/in the/at play/nn or/cc in/in comedy/nn and/cc satire/nn ''/'' ./.
I/ppss stood/vbd up/rp and/cc began/vbd pacing/vbg ./.


	``/`` If/cs you/ppss are/ber trying/vbg to/to get/vb us/ppo out/in of/in the/at brothel/nn ,/, the/at dustbin/nn ,/, the/at kitchen/nn sink/nn ,/, and/cc the/at tawdry/jj living-room/nn ,/, you/ppss are/ber probably/rb wasting/vbg your/pp$ time/nn ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np told/vbd me/ppo ./.
``/`` Too/ql many/ap of/in our/pp$ writers/nns seem/vb to/to be/be interested/vbn only/rb in/in creatures/nns that/wps crawl/vb out/in of/in the/at woodwork/nn or/cc from/in under/in the/at rock/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Furiouser/jjr and/cc furiouser/jjr ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss am/bem worried/vbn about/in the/at current/jj meanings/nns of/in the/at word/nn funny/jj-nc ./.
It/pps now/rb means/vbz ominous/jj ,/, as/cs when/wrb one/pn speaks/vbz of/in a/at funny/jj sound/nn in/in the/at motor/nn ;/. ;/.
disturbing/jj ,/, as/cs when/wrb one/pn says/vbz that/cs a/at friend/nn is/bez acting/vbg funny/rb ;/. ;/.
and/cc frightening/vbg ,/, as/cs when/wrb a/at wife/nn tells/vbz the/at police/nns that/cs it/pps is/bez funny/jj ,/, but/cc her/pp$ husband/nn hasn't/hvz* been/ben home/nr for/in two/cd days/nns and/cc nights/nns ''/'' ./.


	Moreland/np sat/vbd brooding/vbg for/in a/at full/jj minute/nn ,/, during/in which/wdt I/ppss made/vbd each/dt of/in us/ppo a/at new/jj drink/nn ./.
He/pps took/vbd his/pp$ glass/nn ,/, clinked/vbd it/ppo against/in mine/pp$$ ,/, and/cc said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Toujours/fw-rb gai/fw-jj ,/, what/wdt the/at hell/nn ''/'' !/. !/.
Borrowing/vbg a/at line/nn from/in Don/np Marquis'/np$ Mehitabel/np ./.


	``/`` Be/be careful/jj of/in the/at word/nn '/' gay/jj '/' ,/, for/in it/pps ,/, too/rb ,/, has/hvz undergone/vbn a/at change/nn ./.
It/pps now/rb means/vbz ,/, in/in my/pp$ country/nn ,/, homosexual/jj ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` Oh/uh ,/, I/ppss forgot/vbd to/to say/vb that/cs if/cs one/pn is/bez taken/vbn to/in the/at funny/jj house/nn in/in the/at funny/jj wagon/nn ,/, he/pps is/bez removed/vbn to/in a/at mental/jj institution/nn in/in an/at ambulance/nn ./.
Recently/rb ,/, by/in the/at way/nn ,/, I/ppss received/vbd a/at questionnaire/nn in/in which/wdt I/ppss was/bedz asked/vbn whether/cs or/cc not/* I/ppss was/bedz non-institutionalized/jj ''/'' ./.




My/pp$ host/nn went/vbd over/rp and/cc stared/vbd out/in the/at window/nn at/in his/pp$ peacocks/nns ;/. ;/.
then/rb he/pps turned/vbd to/in me/ppo ./.
``/`` Is/bez it/pps true/jj that/cs you/ppss believe/vb the/at other/ap animals/nns are/ber saner/jjr than/cs the/at human/nn species/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, that/dt is/bez demonstrable/jj ''/'' ,/, I/ppss told/vbd him/ppo ./.
``/`` Do/do you/ppo remember/vb the/at woman/nn in/in the/at French/jj-tl Alps/nps-tl who/wps was/bedz all/ql alone/rb with/in her/pp$ sheep/nn one/cd day/nn when/wrb the/at sun/nn darkened/vbd ominously/rb ?/. ?/.
She/pps told/vbd the/at sheep/nn ,/, '/' The/at world/nn is/bez coming/vbg to/in an/at end/nn '/' !/. !/.
And/cc the/at sheep/nn said/vbd --/-- all/abn in/in unison/nn ,/, I/ppss have/hv no/at doubt/nn --/-- ba-a-a/uh !/. !/.
The/at sound/nn mockery/nn of/in sheep/nn is/bez like/cs the/at salubrious/jj horse/nn laugh/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` That/dt is/bez only/ql partly/rb non-nonsense/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps began/vbd ./.


	``/`` If/cs you/ppss saw/vbd the/at drama/nn called/vbn Rhinoceros/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ,/, ``/`` think/vb of/in the/at effect/nn it/pps would/md have/hv on/in an/at audience/nn of/in rhinos/nns when/wrb the/at actor/nn on/in stage/nn suddenly/rb begins/vbz turning/vbg into/in a/at rhinoceros/nn ./.
The/at rhinos/nns would/md panic/vb ,/, screaming/vbg help/uh !/. !/.
--/-- if/cs that/dt can/md be/be screamed/vbn in/in their/pp$ language/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss think/vb the/at Russians/nps are/ber getting/vbg ahead/rb of/in us/ppo in/in comedy/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Moreland/np demanded/vbd ./.


	``/`` Non-God/np ,/, no/rb ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` The/at political/jj and/cc intellectual/jj Left/nn-tl began/vbd fighting/vbg humor/nn and/cc comedy/nn years/nns ago/rb ,/, because/cs they/ppss fear/vb things/nns they/ppss do/do not/* understand/vb and/cc cannot/md* manage/vb ,/, such/jj as/cs satire/nn and/cc irony/nn ,/, such/jj as/cs humor/nn and/cc comedy/nn ./.
Nevertheless/rb ,/, like/cs any/dti other/ap human/nn being/nn upon/in whom/wpo the/at spotlight/nn of/in the/at world/nn plays/vbz continually/rb ,/, Khrushchev/np ,/, the/at anti-personality/jj cultist/nn ,/, has/hvz become/vbn a/at comic/jj actor/nn ,/, or/cc thinks/vbz he/pps has/hvz ./.
In/in his/pp$ famous/jj meeting/nn with/in Nixon/np a/at couple/nn of/in years/nns ago/rb he/pps seemed/vbd to/to believe/vb that/cs he/pps was/bedz as/ql funny/jj as/cs Ed/np Wynn/np ./.
But/cc ,/, like/cs Caesar/np ,/, he/pps has/hvz only/rb one/cd joke/nn ,/, so/ql far/rb as/cs I/ppss can/md find/vb out/rp ./.
It/pps consists/vbz in/in saying/vbg ,/, '/' That/wps would/md be/be sending/vbg the/at goat/nn to/to look/vb after/rb the/at cabbage/nn ./.
Why/wrb in/in the/at name/nn of/in his/pp$ non-God/np doesn't/doz* he/pps vary/vb it/ppo a/at bit/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Such/jj as/cs ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Moreland/np asked/vbd ./.


	``/`` Such/jj as/cs '/' sending/vbg the/at cat/nn to/to guard/vb the/at mice/nns '/' ,/, or/cc '/' the/at falcon/nn to/to protect/vb the/at dove/nn '/' ,/, or/cc most/ql terribly/rb sharp/jj of/in all/abn ,/, '/' the/at human/nn being/nn to/to save/vb humanity/nn '/' ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss and/cc I/ppss have/hv fallen/vbn out/in of/in literature/nn into/in politics/nn ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np observed/vbd ./.


	``/`` What/wdt a/at nasty/jj fall/nn was/bedz there/rb ''/'' !/. !/.
I/ppss said/vbd ./.


	Moreland/np went/vbd over/rp to/to stare/vb at/in his/pp$ peacocks/nns again/rb ,/, and/cc then/rb came/vbd back/rb and/cc sat/vbd down/rp ,/, restively/rb ./.
``/`` The/at world/nn that/wps was/bedz once/rb foot-loose/jj and/cc fancy-free/jj ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` has/hvz now/rb become/vbn screw-loose/jj and/cc frenzy-free/jj ./.
In/in our/pp$ age/nn of/in Science/nn and/cc Angst/fw-nn it/pps seems/vbz to/in me/ppo more/ql brave/jj to/to stay/vb on/in Earth/nn-tl and/cc explore/vb inner/jj man/nn than/cs to/to fly/vb far/rb from/in the/at sphere/nn of/in our/pp$ sorrow/nn and/cc explore/vb outer/jj space/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` The/at human/nn ego/nn being/beg what/wdt it/pps is/bez ''/'' ,/, I/ppss put/vbd in/rp ,/, ``/`` science/nn fiction/nn has/hvz always/rb assumed/vbn that/cs the/at creatures/nns on/in the/at planets/nns of/in a/at thousand/cd larger/jjr solar/jj systems/nns than/cs ours/pp$$ must/md look/vb like/cs gigantic/jj tube-nosed/jj fruit/nn bats/nns ./.
It/pps seems/vbz to/in me/ppo that/cs the/at first/od human/nn being/nn to/to reach/vb one/cd of/in these/dts planets/nns may/md well/rb learn/vb what/wdt it/pps is/bez to/to be/be a/at truly/ql great/jj and/cc noble/jj species/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Now/rb we/ppss are/ber leaving/vbg humor/nn and/cc comedy/nn behind/rb again/rb ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np protested/vbd ./.


	``/`` Not/* in/in the/at largest/jjt sense/nn of/in the/at words/nns ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` The/at other/ap day/nn Arnold/np Toynbee/np spoke/vbd against/in the/at inveterate/jj tendency/nn of/in our/pp$ species/nn to/to believe/vb in/in the/at uniqueness/nn of/in its/pp$ religions/nns ,/, its/pp$ ideologies/nns ,/, and/cc its/pp$ virtually/rb everything/pn else/rb ./.
Why/wrb do/do we/ppss not/* realize/vb that/cs no/at ideology/nn believes/vbz so/ql much/rb in/in itself/ppl as/cs it/pps disbelieves/vbz in/in something/pn else/rb ?/. ?/.
Forty/cd years/nns ago/rb an/at English/jj writer/nn ,/, W./np L./np George/np ,/, dealt/vbd with/in this/dt subject/nn in/in Eddies/nns-tl of/in-tl the/at-tl Day/nn-tl ,/, and/cc said/vbd ,/, as/cs an/at example/nn ,/, that/cs '/' Saint/nn-tl George/np for/in Merry/jj-tl England/np-tl '/' would/md not/* start/vb a/at spirit/nn half/ql so/ql quickly/rb as/cs '/' Strike/vb frog-eating/jj Frenchmen/nps dead/jj '/' ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` There/ex was/bedz also/rb Gott/fw-np strafe/fw-vb Angleterre/fw-np ''/'' ,/, Moreland/np reminded/vbd me/ppo ,/, ``/`` and/cc Carthago/fw-np delenda/fw-vbg est/fw-bez ,/, or/cc if/cs you/ppss will/md ,/, Deus/fw-np strafe/fw-vb Carthage/np ./.
It/pps isn't/bez* what/wdt the/at ideologist/nn believes/vbz in/rp ,/, but/cc what/wdt he/pps hates/vbz ,/, that/cs puts/vbz the/at world/nn in/in jeopardy/nn ./.
This/dt is/bez the/at force/nn ,/, in/in our/pp$ time/nn and/cc in/in every/at other/ap time/nn ,/, that/wps urges/vbz the/at paranoiac/nn and/cc the/at manic-depressive/jj to/to become/vb head/nn of/in a/at state/nn ./.
Complete/jj power/nn not/* only/rb corrupts/vbz but/cc it/pps also/rb attracts/vbz the/at mad/nns ./.
There/ex is/bez a/at bitter/jj satire/nn for/in a/at future/jj writer/nn in/in that/dt ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Great/jj satire/nn has/hvz always/rb been/ben clearly/rb written/vbn and/cc readily/rb understandable/jj ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` But/cc we/ppss now/rb find/vb writers/nns obsessed/vbn by/in the/at nooks/nns and/cc crannies/nns of/in their/pp$ ivory/nn towers/nns ,/, and/cc curiously/rb devoted/vbn to/in the/at growing/vbg obscurity/nn and/cc complexity/nn of/in poetry/nn and/cc non-poetry/nn ./.
I/ppss wrote/vbd a/at few/ap years/nns ago/rb that/cs one/cd of/in the/at cardinal/jj rules/nns of/in writing/vbg is/bez that/cs the/at reader/nn should/md be/be able/jj to/to get/vb some/dti idea/nn of/in what/wdt the/at story/nn is/bez about/rb ./.



	One/cd day/nn ,/, the/at children/nns had/hvd wanted/vbn to/to get/vb up/rp onto/in General/nn-tl Burnside's/np$ horse/nn ./.
They/ppss wanted/vbd to/to see/vb what/wdt his/pp$ back/nn felt/vbd like/cs --/-- the/at General's/nn$-tl ./.
He/pps looked/vbd so/ql comfortable/jj being/beg straight/rb ./.
They/ppss wanted/vbd to/to touch/vb the/at mystery/nn ./.
Arlene/np was/bedz boosting/vbg them/ppo up/rp when/wrb the/at policeman/nn came/vbd by/rb ./.


	He/pps was/bedz very/ql rude/jj ./.


	Arlene/np had/hvd a/at hard/jj voice/nn ,/, too/rb ,/, this/dt time/nn ./.
The/at policeman's/nn$ eyes/nns rather/ql popped/vbd for/in a/at second/nn ;/. ;/.
but/cc then/jj Arlene/np got/vbd another/dt tone/nn in/in a/at hurry/nn ,/, and/cc she/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` If/cs it/pps wasn't/bedz* for/in these/dts dear/jj children/nns ''/'' --/-- ./.


	The/at policeman/nn got/vbd a/at confused/vbn ,/, funny/jj look/nn on/in his/pp$ face/nn ,/, and/cc he/pps had/hvd answered/vbn kind/nn of/in politely/rb ,/, ``/`` Now/rb ,/, look/vb here/rb ,/, lady/nn :/: I/ppss know/vb you/ppo got/vbn to/to entertain/vb these/dts kids/nns and/cc all/abn ./.
But/cc this/dt is/bez a/at public/jj park/nn and/cc it's/pps+bez a/at city/nn ordinance/nn that/cs the/at statues/nns cannot/md* be/be crawled/vbn on/in ''/'' ./.


	Arlene/np was/bedz so/ql ashamed/jj that/cs she/pps hung/vbd her/pp$ head/nn when/wrb she/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Yes/rb ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ./.


	The/at policeman/nn walked/vbd on/rp ,/, but/cc he/pps looked/vbd back/rb once/rb ./.


	That/wps had/hvd happened/vbn on/in the/at day/nn when/wrb two/cd other/ap unusual/jj things/nns had/hvd occurred/vbn ./.
Arlene/np had/hvd taught/vbn them/ppo a/at new/jj way/nn to/to have/hv fun/nn in/in their/pp$ little/ap private/jj area/nn ;/. ;/.
and/cc they/ppss had/hvd told/vbn their/pp$ mother/nn about/in the/at tumbles/nns ./.
In/in matters/nns of/in exact/jj information/nn ,/, that/wps kept/vbd her/ppo one/cd step/nn behind/in developments/nns ;/. ;/.
and/cc so/cs they/ppss were/bed consistently/rb true/jj to/in their/pp$ principles/nns ./.


	``/`` Never/rb mind/vb ''/'' ,/, Arlene/np had/hvd said/vbn ,/, after/cs the/at policeman/nn had/hvd left/vbn ,/, having/hvg pursued/vbn the/at usual/jj unco-operative/jj course/nn of/in grownups/nns ./.
``/`` Never/rb mind/vb ./.
I/ppss know/vb something/pn that/dt is/bez much/ql more/ap fun/nn that/cs we/ppss can/md do/do on/in our/pp$ little/ap lawn/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` What/wdt is/bez it/pps ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Asked/vbd the/at children/nns ,/, whose/wp$ reflexes/nns and/cc replies/nns were/bed invariably/rb so/ql admirably/rb normal/jj and/cc predictable/jj ./.
Maybe/rb that/dt was/bedz why/wrb they/ppss were/bed cordial/jj and/cc loyal/jj towards/in the/at unpredictability/nn of/in Arlene/np ./.


	``/`` Just/rb you/ppss wait/vb ''/'' ,/, advised/vbd Arlene/np ,/, echoing/vbg the/at dialogue/nn in/in a/at recent/jj British/jj movie/nn ./.


	And/cc when/wrb they/ppss had/hvd got/vbn to/in their/pp$ little/ap lawn/nn ,/, they/ppss had/hvd had/hvn a/at most/ql twirlingly/rb magnificent/jj time/nn ./.
First/od ,/, Arlene/np had/hvd put/vbn them/ppo through/in some/dti rapid/jj somersaults/nns ./.
They/ppss had/hvd protested/vbn that/dt that/wps wasn't/bedz* any/dti surprise/nn ./.


	``/`` Just/rb you/ppss wait/vb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Arlene/np again/rb ,/, as/cs though/cs she/pps were/bed discovering/vbg the/at pleasantly/rb tingling/vbg insinuations/nns of/in that/dt handy/jj little/ap sturdy/jj statement/nn ./.
``/`` This/dt is/bez a/at warm-up/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Is/bez it/pps anything/pn like/cs cooked-over/jj oatmeal/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Asked/vbn one/cd of/in the/at children/nns ./.


	``/`` Not/* the/at least/ap bit/nn ''/'' ,/, Arlene/np snapped/vbd ./.
One/cd of/in the/at many/ap things/nns that/wps was/bedz so/ql nice/jj about/in her/pp$ was/bedz that/cs she/pps always/rb took/vbd your/pp$ questions/nns seriously/rb ,/, particularly/rb your/pp$ very/ql ,/, very/ql serious/jj questions/nns ./.
Those/dts were/bed especially/rb the/at ones/nns that/wps all/abn other/ap grownups/nns laughed/vbd at/in loudest/rbt ./.
She/pps would/md sometimes/rb even/vb get/vb a/at little/ql hard/jj on/in you/ppo ,/, she/pps took/vbd you/ppo so/ql seriously/rb ./.
But/cc not/* hard/rb for/in very/ql long/jj ./.
Just/rb long/jj enough/qlp to/to make/vb you/ppo feel/vb important/jj ./.


	``/`` Now/rb ''/'' ,/, said/vbd Arlene/np ,/, eventually/rb ,/, making/vbg them/ppo both/abx sit/vb in/in formation/nn on/in a/at big/jj root/nn of/in a/at live/jj oak/nn ,/, the/at sort/nn of/in root/nn that/wps divided/vbd itself/ppl and/cc made/vbd their/pp$ bottoms/nns sag/vb down/rp and/cc feel/vb comfortable/jj ./.
``/`` Now/rb ,/, we're/ppss+ber going/vbg to/to be/be like/cs what/wdt General/nn-tl Burnside/np and/cc his/pp$ horse/nn make/vb us/ppo think/vb of/in ''/'' ./.


	The/at children/nns looked/vbd at/in each/dt other/ap and/cc sagged/vbd their/pp$ bottoms/nns down/rp even/ql more/ql comfortably/rb than/cs ever/rb ./.
Their/pp$ curiosity/nn went/vbd happily/rb out/in of/in bounds/nns ./.


	Then/rb ,/, Arlene/np threw/vbd herself/ppl backwards/rb and/cc wiggled/vbd in/in a/at way/nn that/wps was/bedz just/rb wonderful/jj ./.
She/pps held/vbd herself/ppl that/dt way/nn and/cc turned/vbd her/pp$ head/nn towards/in them/ppo and/cc laughed/vbd and/cc winked/vbd ./.
``/`` Imagine/vb being/beg able/jj to/to laugh/vb and/cc wink/vb when/wrb you're/ppss+ber like/cs the/at top/jjs part/nn of/in that/dt picture/nn frame/nn at/in home/nr ''/'' ,/, one/cd of/in them/ppo said/vbn ./.
They/ppss both/abx laughed/vbd and/cc winked/vbd back/rb ./.


	``/`` I'm/ppss+bem General/nn-tl Burnside's/np$ horse/nn ,/, upside/rb down/rp ''/'' ,/, Arlene/np said/vbd ,/, sort/nn of/in gaspingly/rb ,/, for/in her/ppo :/: even/rb she/pps had/hvd to/to breathe/vb kind/nn of/in funny/jj when/wrb she/pps was/bedz in/in that/dt position/nn ./.
She/pps made/vbd General/nn-tl Burnside's/np$ horse's/nn$ belly/nn do/do so/ql funny/jj when/wrb it/pps was/bedz upside/rb down/rp ./.
Then/rb ,/, she/pps was/bedz back/rb on/in her/pp$ feet/nns ,/, winking/vbg and/cc smiling/vbg that/ql enormous/jj smile/nn (/( she/pps had/hvd lots/nns of/in wonderful/jj big/jj teeth/nns that/cs you/ppss never/rb would/md have/hv suspected/vbn she/pps had/hvd when/wrb she/pps was/bedz not/* smiling/vbg )/) ./.
And/cc she/pps would/md wink/vb and/cc throw/vb kisses/nns ./.
They/ppss both/abx tried/vbd to/to keep/vb smiling/vbg and/cc winking/vbg for/in a/at long/jj time/nn ,/, but/cc it/pps made/vbd their/pp$ lips/nns and/cc eyelids/nns tremble/vb ./.
But/cc they/ppss kept/vbd on/in clapping/vbg for/in a/at long/jj ,/, long/jj time/nn ./.


	``/`` This/dt time/nn ''/'' ,/, Arlene/np said/vbd ,/, and/cc she/pps even/rb kept/vbd on/in wiggling/vbg a/at little/ap bit/nn while/cs she/pps was/bedz just/rb talking/vbg ,/, ``/`` you're/ppss+ber going/vbg to/to tell/vb me/ppo what/wdt I/ppss am/bem and/cc what/wdt I'm/ppss+bem doing/vbg ./.
It/pps all/abn has/hvz something/pn to/to do/do with/in General/nn-tl Burnside/np and/cc his/pp$ horse/nn ''/'' ./.


	This/dt time/nn ,/, it/pps was/bedz so/ql grand/jj ;/. ;/.
they/ppss could/md tell/vb exactly/rb what/wdt it/pps was/bedz ./.
It/pps was/bedz General/nn-tl Burnside's/np$ horse/nn running/vbg in/in a/at circle/nn ./.
His/pp$ legs/nns shook/vbd ,/, and/cc the/at shaking/nn went/vbd right/ql on/rp up/in his/pp$ body/nn through/in his/pp$ hips/nns to/in his/pp$ shoulders/nns ./.
``/`` That's/dt+bez the/at General's/nn$-tl horse/nn ''/'' ,/, one/cd of/in them/ppo cried/vbn out/rp ./.


	The/at other/ap remarked/vbn ,/, in/in a/at happy/jj laughter/nn ,/, ``/`` That's/dt+bez a/at funny/jj old/jj horse/nn ''/'' ./.


	The/at first/od one/pn said/vbd ,/, ``/`` He/pps sure/rb does/doz shake/vb ./.
He's/pps+bez old/jj ''/'' ./.


	Then/rb there/ex was/bedz the/at General/nn-tl kissing/vbg his/pp$ wife/nn ./.
They/ppss had/hvd to/to be/be told/vbn that/dt one/pn ./.
But/cc it/pps was/bedz even/rb funnier/jjr after/cs they/ppss had/hvd been/ben told/vbn ./.
Their/pp$ father/nn ,/, when/wrb he/pps came/vbd back/rb from/in those/dts many/ap business/nn trips/nns ,/, just/rb bumped/vbd their/pp$ mother/nn on/in the/at forehead/nn with/in his/pp$ lips/nns and/cc asked/vbd if/cs anybody/pn had/hvd thought/vbn to/to mix/vb the/at martinis/nns and/cc put/vb them/ppo in/in the/at electric/jj icebox/nn ./.
But/cc not/* General/nn-tl Burnside/np ./.
He/pps was/bedz the/at funniest/jjt man/nn ./.
He/pps never/rb could/md keep/vb still/jj ,/, even/rb when/wrb he/pps didn't/dod* move/vb his/pp$ feet/nns ./.


	Then/rb ,/, they/ppss had/hvd to/to get/vb up/rp and/cc be/be General/nn-tl Burnside/np ./.
Or/cc his/pp$ horse/nn ./.
All/abn they/ppss could/md think/vb of/in was/bedz to/to run/vb around/rb in/in circles/nns ,/, kicking/vbg their/pp$ legs/nns out/rp ./.
It/pps wasn't/bedz* very/ql funny/jj ./.
Then/rb ,/, they/ppss said/vbd General/nn-tl Burnside/np was/bedz going/vbg to/to jump/vb over/in his/pp$ horse's/nn$ head/nn ;/. ;/.
and/cc they/ppss did/dod some/dti somersaults/nns ./.
But/cc that/dt wasn't/bedz* very/ql funny/jj ,/, either/rb ./.


	``/`` You/ppss ought/md to/to shake/vb ''/'' ,/, Arlene/np advised/vbd them/ppo ./.
And/cc Arlene/np showed/vbd them/ppo how/wrb to/to begin/vb ./.
She/pps also/rb taught/vbd them/ppo to/to sing/vb ``/`` I/ppss wish/vb I/ppss could/md shimmy/vb like/cs my/pp$ sister/nn Kate/np ''/'' ./.
That/wps helped/vbd a/at lot/nn ./.
They/ppss were/bed clumsy/jj ,/, but/cc they/ppss were/bed beginning/vbg to/to catch/vb on/rp ./.
They/ppss also/rb caught/vbd on/rp a/at little/ap bit/nn on/in how/wrb to/to smile/vb a/at lot/nn without/in your/pp$ lips/nns trembling/vbg ./.
``/`` Imagine/vb you/ppss won't/md* get/vb your/pp$ allowance/nn if/cs you're/ppss+ber caught/vbn not/* smiling/vbg --/-- or/cc smiling/vbg with/in your/pp$ lips/nns trembling/vbg too/ql much/rb ''/'' ,/, Arlene/np suggested/vbd ./.


	That/wps helped/vbd a/at great/jj deal/nn ./.




They/ppss were/bed a/at little/ql late/jj in/in getting/vbg home/nr ./.


	``/`` I'm/ppss+bem sorry/jj ,/, Mrs./np Minks/np ''/'' ,/, Arlene/np said/vbd in/in a/at tone/nn so/ql low/jj you/ppss could/md hardly/rb hear/vb it/ppo ./.


	My/pp$ mother/nn constituted/vbd herself/ppl the/at voice/nn of/in all/abn of/in us/ppo ./.
``/`` It's/pps+bez perfectly/rb understandable/jj ,/, Arlene/np ''/'' ,/, my/pp$ mother/nn said/vbd in/in a/at friendly/jj way/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss suppose/vb you/ppo all/abn were/bed playing/vbg and/cc forgot/vbd ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Yes/rb ,/, ma'am/nn ''/'' ,/, the/at children/nns chorused/vbd heartily/rb ./.


	We/ppss couldn't/md* help/vb laughing/vbg ./.


	The/at children/nns rushed/vbd off/rp to/to get/vb rid/jj of/in their/pp$ sweaters/nns ;/. ;/.
and/cc Arlene/np began/vbd tapping/vbg the/at kitchen/nn door/nn open/rb ./.
``/`` Arlene's/np+bez a/at good/jj girl/nn ''/'' ,/, my/pp$ uncle/nn remarked/vbd to/in us/ppo ;/. ;/.
but/cc he/pps said/vbd it/ppo too/ql soon/rb ,/, for/cs it/pps came/vbd out/rp just/rb before/cs the/at tap/nn to/in which/wdt the/at door/nn responded/vbd ./.
That/dt tap/nn had/hvd a/at slight/jj bangish/jj quality/nn ./.


	``/`` She/pps really/rb is/bez a/at dear/jj little/jj thing/nn ''/'' ,/, my/pp$ mother/nn agreed/vbd ./.
Her/pp$ upper/jj lip/nn lifted/vbd slightly/rb ./.
She/pps was/bedz biting/vbg into/in a/at small/jj red/jj radish/nn ;/. ;/.
and/cc that/dt action/nn always/rb caused/vbd her/ppo to/to lift/vb her/pp$ lip/nn from/in the/at sting/nn of/in the/at thing/nn ./.
Also/rb ,/, she/pps lived/vbd in/in continual/jj fear/nn of/in finding/vbg a/at white/jj worm/nn curled/vbn up/rp in/in a/at neat/jj ,/, mean/jj little/ap heap/nn at/in the/at white/jj center/nn of/in the/at radish/nn ./.
She/pps would/md try/vb to/to see/vb over/in the/at bulge/nn of/in her/pp$ cheeks/nns and/cc somewhat/rb under/in her/pp$ teeth/nns to/in the/at place/nn where/wrb she/pps was/bedz biting/vbg ./.
It/pps never/rb worked/vbd ,/, naturally/rb ;/. ;/.
but/cc it/pps made/vbd her/ppo look/vb unusual/jj ./.
Also/rb ,/, when/wrb she/pps had/hvd bitten/vbn off/rp half/abn of/in the/at small/jj radish/nn ,/, she/pps found/vbd the/at suspense/nn unbearable/jj ;/. ;/.
and/cc she/pps would/md snatch/vb the/at finger-held/jj half/abn of/in the/at radish/nn out/in to/in where/wrb she/pps could/md inspect/vb it/ppo ./.
One/pn could/md hear/vb a/at very/ql faint/jj ,/, ladylike/jj sigh/nn of/in relief/nn ./.
Actually/rb ,/, it/pps was/bedz inaudible/jj to/in anyone/pn not/* expecting/vbg it/ppo ./.
But/cc the/at warm/jj joy/nn of/in her/pp$ brown/jj eyes/nns was/bedz open/jj to/in the/at general/jj public/nn ./.


	Later/rbr on/rp ,/, the/at children/nns told/vbd her/ppo further/rbr about/in somersaulting/vbg ./.
``/`` It/pps must/md be/be awfully/ql good/jj for/in them/ppo ./.
And/cc awfully/ql kind/jj of/in Arlene/np ''/'' ,/, she/pps told/vbd us/ppo later/rbr ./.
``/`` But/cc do/do you/ppss know/vb something/pn curious/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/.
She/pps added/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss reached/vbd into/in that/dt funny/jj little/ap pocket/nn that/dt is/bez high/rb up/rp on/in my/pp$ dress/nn ./.
I/ppss have/hv no/at notion/nn why/wrb I/ppss reached/vbd ./.
And/cc I/ppss found/vbd a/at radish/nn ./.
Was/bedz it/pps an/at omen/nn ?/. ?/.
I/ppss thought/vbd for/in a/at second/nn ./.
But/cc I/ppss would/md not/* pamper/vb myself/ppl in/in that/dt silly/jj way/nn ./.
I/ppss opened/vbd the/at window/nn and/cc threw/vbd the/at radish/nn out/rp ''/'' ./.


	Then/rb ,/, my/pp$ mother/nn blushed/vbd at/in this/dt small/jj lie/nn ;/. ;/.
for/cs she/pps knew/vbd and/cc we/ppss knew/vbd that/cs it/pps was/bedz cowardice/nn that/wps had/hvd made/vbn one/cd more/ap radish/nn that/dt night/nn just/rb too/ql impossible/jj a/at strain/nn ./.




Arlene/np became/vbd indispensable/jj ;/. ;/.
nobody/pn could/md have/hv told/vbn why/wrb ./.
But/cc she/pps was/bedz ./.
It/pps was/bedz in/in the/at air/nn ./.


	A/at friend/nn of/in my/pp$ father's/nn$ came/vbd to/in dinner/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz passing/vbg through/in town/nn and/cc phoned/vbd to/to say/vb hello/uh ./.
As/cs a/at result/nn ,/, he/pps was/bedz persuaded/vbn out/rp to/in dinner/nn ./.
As/cs a/at matter/nn of/in fact/nn ,/, this/dt happened/vbd every/at four/cd or/cc five/cd months/nns ./.
Sometimes/rb ,/, he/pps coincided/vbd with/in my/pp$ father's/nn$ being/beg at/in home/nr ./.
Sometimes/rb ,/, as/cs at/in this/dt juncture/nn ,/, he/pps did/dod not/* ./.
But/cc he/pps was/bedz always/rb persuaded/vbn out/rp ./.


	He/pps liked/vbd children/nns ,/, in/in a/at loathsome/jj kind/nn of/in way/nn ;/. ;/.
the/at two/cd youngest/jjt in/in our/pp$ family/nn always/rb had/hvd to/to be/be brought/vbn in/rp and/cc put/vbd through/in tricks/nns for/in his/pp$ entertainment/nn ./.
When/wrb he/pps had/hvd left/vbn ,/, I/ppss could/md never/rb remember/vb whether/cs he/pps had/hvd poked/vbn them/ppo in/in their/pp$ middles/nns ,/, laughingly/rb ,/, with/in a/at thick/jj index/nn finger/nn or/cc whether/cs he/pps was/bedz merely/rb so/ql much/rb the/at sort/nn of/in person/nn who/wps did/dod this/dt that/cs one/pn assumed/vbd the/at action/nn ,/, not/* bothering/vbg to/to look/vb ./.
The/at children/nns loathed/vbd him/ppo ,/, too/rb ./.


	This/dt evening/nn ,/, they/ppss were/bed pushed/vbn in/rp from/in the/at breakfast/nn room/nn ,/, with/in odds/nns and/cc ends/nns of/in dessert/nn distributed/vbn over/in them/ppo ./.
There/ex had/hvd been/ben some/dti coconut/nn in/in it/ppo ,/, for/cs I/ppss remember/vb my/pp$ mother's/nn$ taking/vbg a/at quick/jj glance/nn at/in a/at stringy/jj bit/nn of/in this/dt nut/nn on/in the/at cheek/nn of/in one/cd of/in them/ppo and/cc then/rb putting/vbg down/rp her/pp$ radish/nn with/in a/at shiver/nn ./.


	They/ppss were/bed pushed/vbn gently/rb into/in the/at room/nn by/in Arlene/np --/-- whose/wp$ only/ap part/nn appearing/vbg were/bed hands/nns that/wps crept/vbd quickly/rb back/rb around/rb to/in the/at kitchen/nn side/nn of/in the/at door/nn ./.
We/ppss had/hvd just/rb sat/vbn down/rp ./.


	``/`` Tell/vb Mr./np Gorboduc/np what/wdt you're/ppss+ber doing/vbg these/dts days/nns ''/'' ,/, my/pp$ mother/nn advised/vbd the/at children/nns ,/, ceremonially/rb ./.


	There/ex was/bedz an/at air/nn of/in revolt/nn about/in the/at children/nns --/-- even/rb irreverence/nn for/in their/pp$ own/jj principles/nns ./.
This/dt could/md be/be told/vbn chiefly/rb from/in a/at sort/nn of/in head-tossing/nn and/cc prancing/vbg ,/, a/at horselike/jj balkiness/nn of/in demeanor/nn ./.
Possibly/rb ,/, the/at coconut-containing/jj dessert/nn had/hvd brought/vbn up/rp bitter/jj problems/nns of/in administration/nn ./.
But/cc ,/, at/in the/at beginning/nn ,/, this/dt stayed/vbd just/rb in/in the/at air/nn ./.


	``/`` We/ppss go/vb to/in the/at park/nn with/in this/dt nice/jj lady/nn ''/'' ,/, one/cd of/in them/ppo said/vbn ./.
``/`` We/ppss have/hv good/jj times/nns ''/'' ./.


	This/dt happy/jj bulletin/nn convulsed/vbd Mr./np Gorboduc/np ./.
``/`` You/ppss do/do ''/'' ?/. ?/.
He/pps asked/vbd ,/, between/in wheezes/nns of/in laughter/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz forced/vbn to/to wipe/vb his/pp$ eyes/nns ./.
``/`` You/ppss don't/do* step/vb on/in the/at flowers/nns ,/, do/do you/ppss ?/. ?/.
Eh/uh ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	One/cd of/in the/at children/nns maneuvered/vbd out/in of/in range/nn of/in the/at poking/vbg index/nn finger/nn ./.


	``/`` No/rb ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ./.
``/`` We/ppss don't/do* ''/'' ./.


	Mr./np Gorboduc/np took/vbd a/at swig/nn of/in his/pp$ sherry/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz so/ql long/jj thinking/vbg that/cs my/pp$ mother/nn had/hvd time/nn to/to inspect/vb her/pp$ sherry/nn for/in dregs/nns ./.
Usually/rb ,/, this/dt was/bedz done/vbn when/wrb attention/nn was/bedz diverted/vbn by/in someone/pn else's/rb$ long/jj ,/, boring/vbg story/nn ./.
But/cc this/dt time/nn she/pps was/bedz nervous/jj :/: she/pps was/bedz open/jj ./.


	Mr./np Gorboduc/np was/bedz finally/rb in/in command/nn of/in his/pp$ mind/nn again/rb ./.
``/`` Tell/vb me/ppo --/-- what/wdt do/do you/ppo do/do at/in the/at park/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
He/pps asked/vbd ./.
This/dt was/bedz delivered/vbn in/in a/at forthright/jj way/nn ,/, without/in coyness/nn and/cc over-pretended/jj interest/nn --/-- an/at admirable/jj way/nn with/in children/nns ./.
Only/rb ,/, unfortunately/rb ,/, he/pps could/md not/* remove/vb from/in his/pp$ voice/nn a/at nagging/vbg insinuation/nn of/in the/at direct/jj command/nn ./.
This/dt nettled/vbd the/at children/nns into/in the/at revelation/nn of/in exact/jj truth/nn ,/, a/at sacrifice/nn of/in their/pp$ secret/jj superiority/nn over/in grown/vbn people/nns ,/, but/cc a/at victory/nn in/in the/at wide/jj fields/nns of/in perpetration/nn and/cc illegitimate/jj accomplishment/nn ./.


	``/`` We/ppss bump/vb ''/'' ,/, one/cd said/vbd ;/. ;/.
and/cc the/at other/ap went/vbd on/rp to/in development/nn of/in the/at idea/nn ./.
``/`` We/ppss grind/vb ,/, too/rb ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ./.


	My/pp$ mother/nn was/bedz beside/in herself/ppl with/in curiosity/nn ./.
``/`` Say/vb that/dt again/rb ''/'' ,/, she/pps pleaded/vbd ./.
She/pps laughed/vbd a/at little/ap and/cc tossed/vbd the/at dregs/nns rakishly/rb around/rb in/in her/pp$ glass/nn ./.
``/`` You/ppss what/wdt ''/'' ?/. ?/.
She/pps could/md see/vb that/cs Mr./np Gorboduc/np was/bedz intrigued/vbn ;/. ;/.
the/at hostess/nn in/in her/ppo took/vbd over/rp ./.
She/pps was/bedz rollickingly/rb happy/jj ./.
``/`` You/ppss what/wdt ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	My/pp$ uncle/nn looked/vbd at/in Mr./np Gorboduc/np ./.
He/pps read/vbd Henry/np James/np and/cc used/vbd to/to pretend/vb profundity/nn through/in eye-beamings/nns at/in people/nns ./.


	Mr./np Gorboduc/np looked/vbd down/rp ./.
He/pps would/md not/* look/vb up/rp ./.
He/pps was/bedz very/ql funny/jj about/in the/at whole/jj thing/nn ./.





Pueri/fw-nns aquam/fw-nn de/fw-in silvas/fw-nns ad/fw-in agricolas/fw-nns portant/fw-vb ,/, a/at delightful/jj vignette/nn set/vbn in/in the/at unforgettable/jj epoch/nn of/in pre-Punic/jj War/nn-tl Rome/np ./.
Marcellus/np ,/, the/at hero/nn ,/, is/bez beset/vbn from/in all/abn sides/nns by/in the/at problems/nns of/in approaching/vbg manhood/nn ./.
The/at story/nn opens/vbz on/in the/at eve/nn of/in his/pp$ fifty-third/od birthday/nn ,/, as/cs he/pps prepares/vbz for/in the/at two/cd weeks/nns of/in festivities/nns that/wps are/ber to/to follow/vb ./.
Suddenly/rb ,/, a/at messenger/nn arrives/vbz and/cc ,/, just/rb before/in collapsing/vbg dead/jj at/in his/pp$ feet/nns ,/, informs/vbz him/ppo that/cs the/at Saracens/nps have/hv invaded/vbn Silesia/np ,/, the/at home/nr province/nn of/in his/pp$ affianced/vbn ./.
He/pps at/in once/rb cancels/vbz the/at celebrations/nns and/cc ,/, buckling/vbg on/rp his/pp$ scimitar/nn ,/, stumbles/vbz blindly/rb from/in the/at house/nn ,/, where/wrb he/pps is/bez hit/vbn and/cc killed/vbn by/in a/at passing/vbg oxcart/nn ./.




The/at Albany/np-tl Civic/jj-tl Opera's/nn$-tl presentation/nn of/in Spumoni's/np$ immortal/jj Il/fw-at-tl Sevigli/np-tl del/fw-in+at-tl Spegititgninino/np-tl ,/, with/in guest/nn contralto/nn Hattie/np Sforzt/np ./.
An/at unusual/jj ,/, if/cs not/* extraordinary/jj ,/, rendering/vbg of/in the/at classic/jj myth/nn that/wps involves/vbz the/at rescue/nn of/in Prometheus/np from/in the/at rock/nn by/in the/at U.S./np-tl Cavalry/nn-tl was/bedz given/vbn last/ap week/nn in/in the/at warehouse/nn of/in the/at Albany/np-tl Leather/nn-tl Conduit/nn-tl Company/nn-tl amid/in cheers/nns of/in ``/`` Hubba/uh hubba/uh ''/'' and/cc ``/`` Yalagaloo/uh pip/uh pip/uh ''/'' !/. !/.


	After/in a/at ``/`` busy/jj ''/'' overture/nn ,/, the/at curtain/nn rises/vbz on/in a/at farm/nn scene/nn --/-- the/at Ranavan/np-tl Valley/nn-tl in/in northern/jj Maine/np ./.
A/at dead/jj armadillo/nn ,/, the/at sole/jj occupant/nn of/in the/at stage/nn ,/, symbolizes/vbz the/at crisis/nn and/cc destruction/nn of/in the/at Old/jj-tl Order/nn-tl ./.
Old/jj-tl Order/nn-tl ,/, acted/vbn and/cc atonally/rb sung/vbn by/in Grunnfeu/np Arapacis/np ,/, the/at lovely/jj Serbantian/jj import/nn ,/, then/rb entered/vbd and/cc delivered/vbd the/at well-known/jj invocation/nn to/in the/at god/nn Phineoppus/np ,/, whereupon/cs the/at stage/nn is/bez quite/ql unexpectedly/rb visited/vbn by/in a/at company/nn of/in wandering/vbg Gorshek/np priests/nns ,/, symbolizing/vbg Love/nn-tl ,/, Lust/nn-tl ,/, Prudence/nn-hl and/cc General/nn-tl Motors/nns-tl ,/, respectively/rb ./.
According/in to/in the/at myth/nn ,/, Old/jj-tl Order/nn-tl then/rb vanishes/vbz at/in stage/nn left/jj and/cc reappears/vbz at/in extreme/jj stage/nn right/nr ,/, but/cc Director/nn-tl Shuz/np skillfully/rb sidesteps/vbz the/at rather/ql gooshey/jj problem/nn of/in stage/nn effects/nns by/in simply/rb having/hvg Miss/np Arapacis/np walk/vb across/in the/at stage/nn ./.
The/at night/nn he/pps saw/vbd it/ppo ,/, a/at rather/ql unpleasant/jj situation/nn arose/vbd when/wrb the/at soloist/nn refused/vbd to/to approach/vb the/at armadillo/nn ,/, complaining/vbg --/-- in/in ad-lib/nn --/-- that/cs ``/`` it/pps smelled/vbd ''/'' ./.
We/ppss caught/vbd the/at early/jj train/nn to/in New/jj-tl York/np-tl ./.




The/at Dharma/np-tl Dictionary/nn-tl ,/, a/at list/nn of/in highly/ql unusual/jj terms/nns used/vbn in/in connection/nn with/in Eurasian/jj proto-senility/nn cults/nns ./.
It's/pps+bez somewhat/rb off/in the/at beaten/vbn track/nn ,/, to/to be/be sure/jj ,/, but/cc therein/rb lies/vbz its/pp$ variety/nn and/cc charm/nn ./.
For/in example/nn ,/, probably/rb very/ap few/ap people/nns know/vb that/cs the/at word/nn ``/`` visrhanik/nn-nc ''/'' that/wps is/bez bantered/vbn about/rb so/ql much/rb today/nr stems/vbz from/in the/at verb/nn ``/`` bouanahsha/fw-vb-nc ''/'' :/: to/to salivate/vb ./.
Likewise/rb ,/, and/cc equally/rb fascinating/jj ,/, is/bez the/at news/nn that/cs such/jj unlikely/jj synonyms/nns as/cs ``/`` pratakku/fw-nn ''/'' ,/, ``/`` sweathruna/fw-nn-nc ''/'' ,/, and/cc the/at tongue-twister/nn ``/`` nnuolapertar-it-vuh-karti-birifw-/nn ''/'' all/abn originated/vbd in/in the/at same/ap village/nn in/in Bathar-on-Walli/np-tl Province/nn-tl and/cc are/ber all/abn used/vbn to/to express/vb sentiments/nns concerning/in British/jj ``/`` imperialism/nn ''/'' ./.
The/at terms/nns are/ber fairly/ql safe/jj to/to use/vb on/in this/dt side/nn of/in the/at ocean/nn ,/, but/cc before/cs you/ppss start/vb spouting/vbg them/ppo to/in your/pp$ date/nn ,/, it/pps might/md be/be best/jjt to/to find/vb out/rp if/cs he/pps was/bedz a/at member/nn of/in Major/nn-tl Pockmanster's/np$ Delhi/np-tl Regiment/nn-tl ,/, since/cs resentment/nn toward/in the/at natives/nns was/bedz reportedly/rb very/ql high/jj in/in that/dt outfit/nn ./.




The/at breeze/nn and/cc chancellor/nn Neitzbohr/np ,/, a/at movie/nn melodrama/nn that/wps concerns/vbz the/at attempts/nns of/in a/at West/jj-tl German/np-tl politician/nn to/to woo/vb a/at plaster/nn cast/nn of/in the/at Apollo/np Belvedere/np ./.
As/cs you/ppss have/hv doubtless/rb guessed/vbn already/rb ,/, the/at plot/nn is/bez plastered/vbn with/in Freudian/jj ,/, Jungian/jj ,/, and/cc Meinckian/jj theory/nn ./.
For/in example/nn ,/, when/wrb the/at film/nn is/bez only/rb four/cd minutes/nns old/jj ,/, Neitzbohr/np refers/vbz to/in a/at small/jj ,/, Victorian/jj piano/nn stool/nn as/cs ``/`` Wilhelmina/np ''/'' ,/, and/cc we/ppss are/ber thereupon/rb subjected/vbn to/in a/at flashback/nn that/wps informs/vbz us/ppo that/cs this/dt very/ap piano/nn stool/nn was/bedz once/rb used/vbn by/in an/at epileptic/jj governess/nn whose/wp$ name/nn ,/, of/in course/nn ,/, was/bedz Doris/np (/( the/at English/np equivalent/nn ,/, when/wrb passed/vbn through/in middle-Gaelic/np derivations/nns ,/, of/in Wilhelmina/np )/) ./.
For/in the/at remainder/nn of/in the/at movie/nn ,/, Chancellor/nn-tl Neitzbohr/np proceeds/vbz to/to lash/vb the/at piano/nn stool/nn with/in a/at slat/nn from/in a/at Venetian/jj blind/nn that/wps used/vbd to/to hang/vb in/in the/at pre-war/jj Reichstag/np ./.
In/in this/dt manner/nn ,/, he/pps seeks/vbz to/to expunge/vb from/in his/pp$ own/jj soul/nn the/at guilt/nn pangs/nns caused/vbn by/in his/pp$ personal/jj assaults/nns against/in the/at English/nps at/in Dunkirk/np ./.
As/cs we/ppss find/vb out/rp at/in the/at end/nn ,/, it/pps is/bez not/* the/at stool/nn (/( symbolizing/vbg Doris/np ,/, therefore/rb the/at English/nps )/) that/cs he/pps is/bez punishing/vbg but/cc the/at piece/nn of/in Venetian/jj blind/nn ./.
And/cc ,/, when/wrb the/at slat/nn finally/rb shatters/vbz ,/, we/ppss see/vb him/ppo count/vb the/at fragments/nns ,/, all/abn the/at while/nn muttering/vbg ,/, ``/`` He/pps loves/vbz me/ppo ,/, he/pps loves/vbz me/ppo not/* ''/'' ./.
After/in a/at few/ap tortuous/jj moments/nns of/in wondering/vbg who/wps ``/`` he/pps ''/'' is/bez ,/, the/at camera/nn pans/nns across/in the/at room/nn to/in the/at plaster/nn statue/nn ,/, and/cc we/ppss realize/vb that/cs Neitzbohr/np is/bez trying/vbg to/to redeem/vb himself/ppl in/in the/at eyes/nns of/in a/at mute/jj piece/nn of/in sculpture/nn ./.
The/at effect/nn ,/, needless/jj to/to say/vb ,/, is/bez almost/ql terrifying/jj ,/, and/cc though/cs at/in times/nns a/at bit/nn obscure/jj ,/, the/at film/nn is/bez certainly/rb a/at much-needed/jj catharsis/nn for/in the/at ``/`` repressed/vbn ''/'' movie-goer/nn ./.




The/at music/nn of/in Bini/np SalFininistas/np-hl ,/, capital/nn LP/np-tl Ab63711-r/np ,/, one/cd of/in the/at rare/jj recordings/nns of/in this/dt titanic/jj ,/, yet/rb unsung/jj ,/, composer/nn ./.
Those/dts persons/nns who/wps were/bed lucky/jj enough/qlp to/to see/vb and/cc hear/vb the/at performance/nn of/in his/pp$ work/nn at/in the/at Brest-Silevniov/np-tl Festival/nn-tl in/in August/np ,/, 1916/cd ,/, will/md certainly/rb welcome/vb his/pp$ return/nn to/in public/jj notice/nn ;/. ;/.
and/cc it/pps is/bez not/* unlikely/jj that/cs ,/, even/rb as/cs the/at great/jj Bach/np lay/vbd dormant/jj for/in so/ql many/ap years/nns ,/, so/rb has/hvz the/at erudite/jj ,/, ingenious/jj SalFininistas/np passed/vbd through/in his/pp$ ``/`` purgatory/nn ''/'' of/in neglect/nn ./.
But/cc now/rb ,/, under/in the/at guidance/nn of/in the/at contemporary/jj composer/nn Marc/np Schlek/np ,/, Jr./np ,/, a/at major/jj revival/nn is/bez under/in way/nn ./.
As/cs he/pps leads/vbz the/at Neurenschatz/np-tl Skolkau/np-tl Orchestra/nn-tl ,/, Schlek/np gives/vbz a/at tremendously/rb inspired/vbn performance/nn of/in both/abx the/at Baslot/np and/cc Rattzhenfuut/np concertos/nns ,/, including/in the/at controversial/jj Tschilwyk/np cadenza/nn ,/, which/wdt was/bedz included/vbn at/in the/at conductor's/nn$ insistence/nn ./.
A/at major/jj portion/nn of/in the/at credit/nn should/md also/rb go/vb to/in flautist/nn Haumd/np for/in his/pp$ rendering/nn of/in the/at almost/ql impossible/jj ``/`` Indianapolis/np ''/'' movement/nn in/in the/at Baslot/np ./.
Not/* only/rb was/bedz Haumd's/np$ intonation/nn and/cc phrasing/vbg without/in flaw/nn ,/, but/cc he/pps seemed/vbd to/to take/vb every/at tonal/jj eccentricity/nn in/in stride/nn ./.
For/in example/nn ,/, to/to move/vb (/( as/cs the/at score/nn requires/vbz )/) from/in the/at lowest/jjt F-major/np-tl register/nn up/in to/in a/at barely/rb audible/jj N/np-tl minor/nn in/in four/cd seconds/nns ,/, not/* skipping/vbg ,/, at/in the/at same/ap time/nn ,/, even/rb one/cd of/in the/at 407/cd fingerings/nns ,/, seems/vbz a/at feat/nn too/ql absurd/jj to/to consider/vb ,/, and/cc it/pps is/bez to/in the/at flautist's/nn$ credit/nn that/cs he/pps remained/vbd silent/jj throughout/in the/at passage/nn ./.
We/ppss would/md have/hv preferred/vbn ,/, however/rb ,/, to/to have/hv had/hvn the/at rest/nn of/in the/at orchestra/nn refrain/vb from/in laughing/vbg at/in this/dt and/cc other/ap spots/nns on/in the/at recording/nn ,/, since/cs it/pps mars/vbz an/at otherwise/rb sober/jj ,/, if/cs not/* lofty/jj ,/, performance/nn ./.
As/cs Broadway/np itself/ppl becomes/vbz increasingly/rb weighted/vbn down/rp by/in trite/jj ,/, heavy-handed/jj ,/, commercially/rb successful/jj musicals/nns and/cc inspirational/jj problem/nn dramas/nns ,/, the/at American/jj theatre/nn is/bez going/vbg through/in an/at inexorable/jj renaissance/nn in/in that/dt nebulous/jj area/nn known/vbn as/cs ``/`` off-Broadway/nn ''/'' ./.
For/in the/at last/ap two/cd years/nns ,/, this/dt frontier/nn of/in the/at arts/nns has/hvz produced/vbn a/at number/nn of/in so-called/jj ``/`` non-dramas/nns ''/'' which/wdt have/hv left/vbn indelible/jj ,/, bittersweet/jj impressions/nns on/in the/at psyche/nn of/in this/dt veteran/nn theatregoer/nn ./.
The/at latest/jjt and/cc ,/, significantly/rb ,/, greatest/jjt fruit/nn of/in this/dt theatrical/jj vine/nn is/bez The/at-tl ,/, an/at adaptation/nn of/in Basho's/np$ classic/jj frog-haiku/nn by/in Roger/np Entwhistle/np ,/, a/at former/ap University/nn-tl of/in-tl Maryland/np-tl chemistry/nn instructor/nn ./.
Although/cs the/at play/nn does/doz show/vb a/at certain/jj structural/jj amateurishness/nn (/( there/ex are/ber eleven/cd acts/nns varying/vbg in/in length/nn from/in twenty-five/cd seconds/nns to/in an/at hour/nn and/cc a/at half/abn )/) ,/, the/at statement/nn it/pps makes/vbz concerning/in the/at ceaseless/jj yearning/nn and/cc searching/vbg of/in youth/nn is/bez profound/jj and/cc worthy/jj of/in our/pp$ attention/nn ./.
The/at action/nn centers/vbz about/in a/at group/nn of/in outspoken/jj and/cc offbeat/jj students/nns sitting/vbg around/in a/at table/nn in/in a/at cafeteria/nn and/cc their/pp$ collective/jj and/cc ultimately/rb fruitless/jj search/nn for/in a/at cup/nn of/in hot/jj coffee/nn ./.
They/ppss are/ber relentlessly/rb rebuffed/vbn on/in all/abn sides/nns by/in a/at waitress/nn ,/, the/at police/nns ,/, and/cc an/at intruding/vbg government/nn tutor/nn ./.
The/at innocence/nn that/cs they/ppss tried/vbd to/to conceal/vb at/in the/at beginning/nn is/bez clearly/rb destroyed/vbn forever/rb when/wrb one/cd of/in them/ppo ,/, asking/vbg for/in a/at piece/nn of/in lemon-meringue/nn pie/nn ,/, gets/vbz a/at plate/nn of/in English/jj muffins/nns instead/rb ./.
Leaving/vbg the/at theatre/nn after/in the/at performance/nn ,/, I/ppss had/hvd a/at flash/nn of/in intuition/nn that/cs life/nn ,/, after/in all/abn (/( as/cs Rilke/np said/vbd )/) ,/, is/bez just/rb a/at search/nn for/in the/at nonexistent/jj cup/nn of/in hot/jj coffee/nn ,/, and/cc that/cs this/dt unpretentious/jj ,/, moving/jj ,/, clever/jj ,/, bitter/jj slice/nn of/in life/nn was/bedz the/at greatest/jjt thing/nn to/to happen/vb to/in the/at American/jj theatre/nn since/cs Brooks/np Atkinson/np retired/vbd ./.


	Aging/vbg but/cc still/rb precocious/jj ,/, French/jj feline/jj enfant/fw-nn terrible/fw-jj Francoisette/np Lagoon/np has/hvz succeeded/vbn in/in shocking/vbg jaded/vbn old/jj Paris/np again/rb ,/, this/dt time/nn with/in a/at sexy/jj ballet/nn scenario/nn called/vbn The/at-tl Lascivious/jj-tl Interlude/nn-tl ,/, the/at story/nn of/in a/at nymphomaniac/nn trip-hammer/nn operator/nn who/wps falls/vbz hopelessly/rb in/in love/nn with/in a/at middle-aged/jj steam/nn shovel/nn ./.
A/at biting/vbg ,/, pithy/jj parable/nn of/in the/at all-pervading/jj hollowness/nn of/in modern/jj life/nn ,/, the/at piece/nn has/hvz been/ben set/vbn by/in Mlle/nn Lagoon/np to/in a/at sumptuous/jj score/nn (/( a/at single/ap motif/nn played/vbn over/rp and/cc over/rp by/in four/cd thousand/cd French/jj horns/nns )/) by/in existentialist/nn hot-shot/nn Jean-Paul/np Sartre/np ./.
Petite/jj ,/, lovely/jj Yvette/np Chadroe/np plays/vbz the/at nymphomaniac/nn engagingly/rb ./.


	Ever/rb since/cs Bambi/np ,/, and/cc ,/, more/ql recently/rb ,/, Born/vbn-tl Free/jj-tl ,/, there/ex have/hv been/ben a/at lot/nn of/in books/nns about/in animals/nns ,/, but/cc few/ap compare/vb with/in Max/np Fink's/np$ wry/jj ,/, understated/vbn ,/, charming/jj ,/, and/cc immensely/ql readable/jj My/pp$-tl Friend/nn-tl ,/, the/at-tl Quizzical/jj-tl Salamander/nn-tl ./.
Done/vbn in/in the/at modern/jj style/nn of/in a/at ``/`` confession/nn ''/'' ,/, Fink/np tells/vbz in/in exquisite/jj detail/nn how/wrb he/pps came/vbd to/to know/vb ,/, and/cc ,/, more/ql important/jj ,/, love/vb his/pp$ mother's/nn$ pet/nn salamander/nn ,/, Alicia/np ./.
It/pps is/bez not/* an/at entirely/rb happy/jj book/nn ,/, as/cs Mrs./np Fink/np soon/rb becomes/vbz jealous/jj of/in Alicia/np and/cc ,/, in/in retaliation/nn ,/, refuses/vbz to/to continue/vb to/to scrape/vb the/at algae/nns off/in her/pp$ glass/nn ./.
Max/np ,/, in/in a/at fit/nn of/in despair/nn ,/, takes/vbz Alicia/np and/cc runs/vbz off/rp for/in two/cd marvelous/jj weeks/nns in/in Burbank/np (/( Fink/np calls/vbz it/ppo ``/`` the/at most/ql wonderful/jj and/cc lovely/jj fourteen/cd days/nns in/in my/pp$ whole/jj life/nn ''/'' )/) ,/, at/in the/at end/nn of/in which/wdt Alicia/np tragically/rb contracts/vbz Parkinson's/np$ disease/nn and/cc dies/vbz ./.
This/dt brief/jj resume/nn hardly/rb does/doz the/at book/nn justice/nn ,/, but/cc I/ppss heartily/rb recommend/vb it/ppo to/in all/abn those/dts who/wps are/ber engages/fw-vbn with/in the/at major/jj problems/nns of/in our/pp$ time/nn ./.


	Opera/nn in/in the/at Grand/jj-tl Tradition/nn-tl ,/, along/in with/in mah-jongg/nn ,/, seems/vbz to/to be/be staging/vbg a/at well-deserved/jj comeback/nn ./.
In/in this/dt country/nn ,/, the/at two/cd guiding/vbg lights/nns are/ber ,/, without/in doubt/nn ,/, Felix/np Fing/np and/cc Anna/np Pulova/np ./.
Fing/np ,/, a/at lean/jj ,/, chiseled/vbn ,/, impeccable/jj gentleman/nn of/in the/at old/jj school/nn who/wps was/bedz once/rb mistaken/vbn on/in the/at street/nn for/in Sir/np Cedric/np Hardwicke/np ,/, is/bez responsible/jj for/in the/at rediscovery/nn of/in Verdi's/np$ earliest/jjt ,/, most/ql raucous/jj opera/nn ,/, Nabisco/np ,/, a/at sumptuous/jj bout-de-souffle/fw-nn with/in a/at haunting/jj leitmotiv/nn that/cs struck/vbd me/ppo as/cs being/beg highly/ql reminiscent/jj of/in the/at Mudugno/np version/nn of/in ``/`` Volare/np ''/'' ./.
Miss/np Pulova/np has/hvz a/at voice/nn that/cs Maria/np Callas/np once/rb described/vbd as/cs ``/`` like/cs chipping/vbg teeth/nns with/in a/at screw/nn driver/nn ''/'' ,/, and/cc her/pp$ round/jj ,/, opalescent/jj face/nn becomes/vbz fascinatingly/rb reflective/jj of/in the/at emotions/nns demanded/vbn by/in the/at role/nn of/in Rosalie/np ./.


	The/at Champs/fw-nns-tl Elysees/np is/bez literally/rb littered/vbn this/dt summer/nn with/in the/at prostrate/jj bodies/nns of/in France's/np$ beat-up/jj beatnik/nn jeunes/fw-jj filles/fw-nns ./.
Cause/nn of/in all/abn this/dt commotion/nn :/: squat/jj ,/, pug-nosed/jj ,/, balding/jj ,/, hopelessly/rb ugly/jj Jean-Pierre/np Bravado/np ,/, a/at Bogartian/jj figure/nn ,/, who/wps plays/vbz a/at sadistic/jj ,/, amoral/jj ,/, philosophic/jj Tasti-Freeze/np salesman/nn in/in old/jj New-Waver/np Fredrico/np de/np Mille/np Rossilini's/np$ endlessly/rb provocative/jj film/nn ,/, A/at Sour/jj-tl Sponge/nn-tl ./.
Bravado/np has/hvz been/ben alternately/rb described/vbn as/cs ``/`` a/at symbol/nn of/in the/at new/jj grandeur/nn of/in France/np and/cc myself/ppl ''/'' (/( De/np Gaulle/np )/) and/cc ``/`` a/at decadent/jj ,/, disgusting/jj slob/nn ''/'' !/. !/.
(/( Norman/np Mailer/np )/) ,/, but/cc no/at one/pn can/md deny/vb that/cs the/at screen/nn crackles/vbz with/in electricity/nn whenever/wrb he/pps is/bez on/in it/ppo ./.
Soaring/vbg to/in stardom/nn along/in with/in him/ppo ,/, Margo/np Felicity/np Brighetti/np ,/, a/at luscious/jj and/cc curvaceously/rb beguiling/jj Italian/jj starlet/nn ,/, turns/vbz in/rp a/at creditable/jj performance/nn as/cs an/at airplane/nn mechanic/nn ./.


	The/at battle/nn of/in the/at drib-drool/nn continues/vbz ,/, but/cc most/ap of/in New/jj-tl York's/np$-tl knowing/vbg sophisticates/nns of/in Abstract/jj-tl Expressionism/nn-tl are/ber stamping/vbg their/pp$ feet/nns impatiently/rb in/in expectation/nn of/in V/np-tl (/( for/in Vindication/nn )/) Day/nn-tl ,/, September/np first/od ,/, when/wrb Augustus/np Quasimodo's/np$ first/od one-man/jj show/nn opens/vbz at/in the/at Guggenheim/np ./.
We/ppss have/hv heard/vbn that/cs after/cs seeing/vbg Mr./np Quasimodo's/np$ work/nn it/pps will/md be/be virtually/rb impossible/jj to/to deny/vb the/at artistic/jj validity/nn and/cc importance/nn of/in the/at whole/jj abstract/nn movement/nn ./.
And/cc it/pps is/bez thought/vbn by/in many/ap who/wps think/vb about/in such/jj things/nns that/cs Quasimodo/np is/bez the/at logical/jj culmination/nn of/in a/at school/nn that/wps started/vbd with/in Monet/np ,/, progressed/vbd through/in Kandinsky/np and/cc the/at cubist/nn Picasso/np ,/, and/cc blossomed/vbd just/rb recently/rb in/in Pollock/np and/cc De/np Kooning/np ./.
Quasimodo/np defines/vbz his/pp$ own/jj art/nn as/cs ``/`` the/at search/nn for/in what/wdt is/bez not/* there/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss paint/vb the/at nothing/pn ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd once/rb to/in Franz/np Kline/np and/cc myself/ppl ,/, ``/`` the/at nothing/pn that/dt is/bez behind/in the/at something/pn ,/, the/at inexpressible/jj ,/, unpaintable/jj '/' tick/nn '/' in/in the/at unconscious/nn ,/, the/at '/' spirit/nn '/' of/in the/at moment/nn resting/vbg forever/rb ,/, suspended/vbn like/cs a/at huge/jj balloon/nn ,/, in/in non-time/nn ''/'' ./.
It/pps is/bez his/pp$ relentlessness/nn and/cc unwaivering/jj adherence/nn to/in this/dt revolutionary/jj artistic/jj philosophy/nn that/wps has/hvz enabled/vbn him/ppo to/to paint/vb such/jj pictures/nns as/cs ``/`` The/at-tl Invasion/nn-tl of/in-tl Cuba/np-tl ''/'' ./.
In/in this/dt work/nn ,/, his/pp$ use/nn of/in non-color/nn is/bez startling/jj and/cc skillful/jj ./.
The/at sweep/nn of/in space/nn ,/, the/at delicate/jj counterbalance/nn of/in the/at white/jj masses/nns ,/, the/at over-all/jj completeness/nn and/cc unity/nn ,/, the/at originality/nn and/cc imagination/nn ,/, all/abn entitle/vb it/ppo to/to be/be called/vbn an/at authentic/jj masterpiece/nn ./.
I/ppss asked/vbd Quasimodo/np recently/rb how/wrb he/pps accomplished/vbd this/dt ,/, and/cc he/pps replied/vbd that/cs he/pps had/hvd painted/vbn his/pp$ model/nn ``/`` a/at beautiful/jj shade/nn of/in red/jj and/cc then/rb had/hvd her/pp$ breathe/vb on/in the/at canvas/nn ''/'' ,/, which/wdt was/bedz his/pp$ typical/jj tongue-in-cheek/jj way/nn of/in chiding/vbg me/ppo for/in my/pp$ lack/nn of/in sensitivity/nn ./.



	Dear/jj Sirs/nns :/: Let/vb me/ppo begin/vb by/in clearing/vbg up/in any/dti possible/jj misconception/nn in/in your/pp$ minds/nns ,/, wherever/wrb you/ppss are/ber ./.
The/at collective/nn by/in which/wdt I/ppss address/vb you/ppo in/in the/at title/nn above/rb is/bez neither/cc patronizing/vbg nor/cc jocose/jj but/cc an/at exact/jj industrial/jj term/nn in/in use/nn among/in professional/jj thieves/nns ./.
It/pps is/bez ,/, I/ppss am/bem reliably/rb given/vbn to/to understand/vb ,/, the/at technical/jj argot/nn for/in those/dts who/wps engage/vb in/in your/pp$ particular/jj branch/nn of/in the/at boost/nn ;/. ;/.
i.e./rb ,/, burglars/nns who/wps rob/vb while/cs the/at tenants/nns are/ber absent/jj ,/, in/in contrast/nn to/in hot-slough/jj prowlers/nns ,/, those/dts who/wps work/vb while/cs the/at occupants/nns are/ber home/nr ./.
Since/cs the/at latter/ap obviously/rb require/vb an/at audacity/nn you/ppss do/do not/* possess/vb ,/, you/ppss may/md perhaps/rb suppose/vb that/cs I/ppss am/bem taunting/vbg you/ppo as/cs socially/rb inferior/jj ./.
Far/rb from/in it/ppo ;/. ;/.
I/ppss merely/rb draw/vb an/at etymological/jj distinction/nn ,/, hoping/vbg that/cs specialists/nns and/cc busy/jj people/nns like/cs you/ppss will/md welcome/vb such/jj precision/nn in/in a/at layman/nn ./.
Above/in all/abn ,/, disabuse/vb yourselves/ppls of/in any/dti thought/nn that/cs I/ppss propose/vb to/to vent/vb moral/jj indignation/nn at/in your/pp$ rifling/nn my/pp$ residence/nn ,/, to/to whimper/vb over/in the/at loss/nn of/in a/at few/ap objets/fw-nns d'art/fw-in+nn ,/, or/cc to/to shame/vb you/ppo into/in rectitude/nn ./.
My/pp$ object/nn ,/, rather/rb ,/, is/bez to/to alert/vb you/ppo to/in an/at aspect/nn or/cc two/cd of/in the/at affair/nn that/wps could/md have/hv the/at gravest/jjt implications/nns for/in you/ppo ,/, far/rb beyond/in the/at legal/jj sanctions/nns society/nn might/md inflict/vb ./.
You/ppss have/hv unwittingly/rb set/vbn in/in motion/nn forces/nns so/ql malign/jj ,/, so/ql vindictive/jj ,/, that/cs it/pps would/md be/be downright/ql inhumane/jj of/in me/ppo not/* to/to warn/vb you/ppo about/in them/ppo ./.
Quite/ql candidly/rb ,/, fellows/nns ,/, I/ppss wouldn't/md* be/be in/in your/pp$ shoes/nns for/in all/abn the/at rice/nn in/in China/np ./.


	As/cs you've/ppss+hv doubtless/rb forgotten/vbn the/at circumstances/nns in/in the/at press/nn of/in more/ql recent/jj depredations/nns ,/, permit/vb me/ppo to/to recapitulate/vb them/ppo briefly/rb ./.
Sometime/rb on/in Saturday/nr evening/nn ,/, August/np 22nd/od ,/, while/cs my/pp$ family/nn and/cc I/ppss were/bed dining/vbg at/in the/at Hostaria/np dell'/fw-in+at-tl Orso/fw-nn-tl ,/, in/in Rome/np ,/, you/ppss jimmied/vbd a/at window/nn of/in our/pp$ home/nr in/in Bucks/np-tl County/nn-tl ,/, Pennsylvania/np ,/, and/cc let/vbd yourselves/ppls into/in the/at premises/nns ./.
Hastening/vbg to/in the/at attic/nn ,/, the/at temperature/nn of/in which/wdt was/bedz easily/rb hotter/jjr than/cs the/at Gold/jj-tl Coast/nn-tl ,/, you/ppss proceeded/vbd to/to mask/vb the/at windows/nns with/in a/at fancy/jj wool/nn coverlet/nn ,/, some/dti khaki/jj pants/nns ,/, and/cc the/at like/jj ,/, and/cc to/to ransack/vb the/at innumerable/jj boxes/nns and/cc barrels/nns stored/vbn there/rb ./.
What/wdt you/ppss were/bed looking/vbg for/in (/( unless/cs you/ppss make/vb a/at hobby/nn of/in collecting/vbg old/jj tennis/nn rackets/nns and/cc fly/nn screens/nns )/) eludes/vbz me/ppo ,/, but/cc to/to judge/vb from/in phonograph/nn records/nns scattered/vbn about/in a/at fumed-oak/nn Victrola/np ./.
You/ppss danced/vbd two/cd tangos/nns and/cc a/at paso/fw-nn doble/fw-jj ,/, which/wdt must/md have/hv been/ben fairly/ql enervating/vbg in/in that/dt milieu/nn ./.
You/ppss then/rb descended/vbd one/cd story/nn ,/, glommed/vbd a/at television/nn set/nn from/in the/at music/nn room/nn --/-- the/at only/ap constructive/jj feature/nn of/in your/pp$ visit/nn ,/, by/in the/at way/nn --/-- and/cc ,/, returning/vbg to/in the/at ground/nn floor/nn ,/, entered/vbd the/at master/nn bedroom/nn ./.
From/in the/at curio/nn cabinet/nn on/in its/pp$ south/nr wall/nn and/cc the/at bureaus/nns beneath/rb ,/, you/ppss abstracted/vbd seventeen/cd ivory/nn ,/, metal/nn ,/, wood/nn ,/, and/cc stone/nn sculptures/nns of/in Oriental/jj and/cc African/jj origin/nn ,/, two/cd snuffboxes/nns ,/, and/cc a/at jade-handled/jj magnifying/vbg glass/nn ./.
Rummaging/vbg through/in a/at stack/nn of/in drawers/nns nearby/rb ,/, you/ppss unearthed/vbd an/at antique/nn French/jj chess/nn set/nn in/in ivory/nn and/cc sandalwood/nn ,/, which/wdt ,/, along/in with/in two/cd box/nn Kodaks/nps ,/, you/ppss added/vbd to/in your/pp$ haul/nn ./.
Then/rb ,/, having/hvg wrapped/vbn the/at lot/nn in/in an/at afghan/nn my/pp$ dog/nn customarily/rb slept/vbd on/rp ,/, you/ppss lammed/vbd out/in the/at front/jj door/nn ,/, considerately/rb leaving/vbg it/ppo open/vb for/in neighbors/nns to/to discover/vb ./.


	So/ql much/ap for/in the/at tiresome/jj facts/nns ,/, as/ql familiar/jj to/in you/ppo ,/, I'm/ppss+bem sure/jj ,/, as/in to/in the/at constables/nns and/cc state/nn troopers/nns who/wps followed/vbd in/in your/pp$ wake/nn ./.
The/at foregoing/nn ,/, aided/vbn by/in several/ap clues/nns I'll/ppss+md withhold/vb to/to keep/vb you/ppo on/in your/pp$ toes/nns ,/, will/md pursue/vb you/ppo with/in a/at tenacity/nn worthy/jj of/in Inspector/nn-tl Javert/np ,/, but/cc before/cs they/ppss close/vb in/rp ,/, gird/vb yourselves/ppls ,/, I/ppss repeat/vb ,/, for/in a/at vengeance/nn infinitely/rb more/ql pitiless/jj ./.
Fourteen/cd of/in the/at sculptures/nns you/ppss took/vbd possess/vb properties/nns of/in a/at most/ql curious/jj and/cc terrifying/vbg nature/nn ,/, as/cs you/ppss will/md observe/vb when/wrb your/pp$ limbs/nns begin/vb to/to wither/vb and/cc your/pp$ hair/nn falls/vbz out/rp in/in patches/nns ./.
In/in time/nn ,/, these/dts minor/jj manifestations/nns will/md multiply/vb and/cc effloresce/vb ,/, riddling/vbg you/ppo with/in frambesia/nn ,/, the/at king's/nn$ evil/nn ,/, sheep/nn rot/nn ,/, and/cc clonic/jj spasm/nn ,/, until/cs your/pp$ very/ap existence/nn becomes/vbz a/at burden/nn and/cc you/ppss cry/vb out/rp for/in release/nn ./.
All/ql this/dt ,/, though/rb ,/, is/bez simply/rb a/at prelude/nn ,/, a/at curtain-raiser/nn ,/, for/in what/wdt ensues/vbz ,/, and/cc I/ppss doubt/vb whether/cs any/dti Occidental/jj-tl could/md accurately/rb forecast/vb it/ppo ./.
If/cs ,/, however/rb ,/, it/pps would/md help/vb to/to intensify/vb your/pp$ anguish/nn ,/, I/ppss can/md delimit/vb the/at powers/nns of/in a/at few/ap of/in the/at divinities/nns you've/ppss+hv affronted/vbn and/cc describe/vb the/at punishment/nn they/ppss meted/vbd out/rp in/in one/cd analogous/jj instance/nn ./.
Hold/vb on/rp tight/rb ./.


	First/od of/in all/abn ,/, the/at six/cd figures/nns of/in the/at Buddha/np you/ppss heisted/vbd --/-- four/cd Siamese/jj heads/nns ,/, a/at black/jj obsidian/nn statuette/nn in/in the/at earth-touching/jj position/nn ,/, and/cc a/at large/jj brass/nn figure/nn of/in the/at Dying/vbg-tl Buddha/np-tl on/in a/at teakwood/nn base/nn ./.
Now/rb ,/, you/ppss probably/rb share/vb the/at widespread/jj Western/jj-tl belief/nn that/cs the/at Lord/nn-tl Buddha/np is/bez the/at most/ql compassionate/jj of/in the/at gods/nns ,/, much/ql more/ql so/rb than/cs Jehovah/np and/cc Allah/np and/cc the/at rest/nn ./.
'fess/vb up/rp --/-- don't/do* you/ppss ?/. ?/.
Well/uh ,/, ordinarily/rb he/pps is/bez ,/, except/in (/( as/cs the/at Wheel/nn-tl of/in-tl the/at-tl Law/nn-tl specifies/vbz )/) toward/in impious/jj folk/nn who/wps steal/vb ,/, disturb/vb ,/, or/cc maltreat/vb the/at Presence/nn-tl ./.
Very/ql peculiar/jj retribution/nn indeed/rb seems/vbz to/to overtake/vb such/jj jokers/nns ./.
Eight/cd or/cc ten/cd years/nns ago/rb ,/, a/at couple/nn of/in French/jj hoods/nns stole/vbd a/at priceless/jj Khmer/np head/nn from/in the/at Musee/fw-nn-tl Guimet/np-tl ,/, in/in Paris/np ,/, and/cc a/at week/nn later/rbr crawled/vbd into/in the/at Salpetriere/np with/in unmistakable/jj symptoms/nns of/in leprosy/nn ./.
Hell's/nn$ own/vb amount/vb of/in chaulmoogra/nn oil/nn did/dod nothing/pn to/to alleviate/vb their/pp$ torment/nn ;/. ;/.
they/ppss expired/vbd amid/in indescribable/jj fantods/nns ,/, imploring/vbg the/at Blessed/vbn-tl One/cd-tl to/to forgive/vb their/pp$ desecration/nn ./.
Any/dti reputable/jj French/jj interne/nn can/md supply/vb you/ppo with/in a/at dozen/nn similar/jj instances/nns ,/, and/cc I'll/ppss+md presently/rb recount/vb a/at case/nn out/in of/in my/pp$ own/jj personal/jj experience/nn ,/, but/cc ,/, for/in the/at moment/nn ,/, let's/vb+ppo resume/vb our/pp$ catalogue/nn ./.


	Whether/cs the/at pair/nn of/in Sudanese/jj ivory/nn carvings/nns you/ppss lifted/vbd really/rb possess/vb the/at juju/nn to/to turn/vb your/pp$ livers/nns to/in lead/nn ,/, as/cs a/at dealer/nn in/in Khartoum/np assured/vbd me/ppo ,/, I/ppss am/bem not/* competent/jj to/to say/vb ./.
Likewise/rb the/at ivory/nn Chinese/jj female/nn figure/nn known/vbn as/cs a/at ``/`` doctor/nn lady/nn ''/'' (/( provenance/nn Honan/np )/) ;/. ;/.
a/at friend/nn of/in mine/pp$$ removing/vbg her/ppo from/in the/at curio/nn cabinet/nn for/in inspection/nn was/bedz felled/vbn as/cs if/cs by/in a/at hammer/nn ,/, but/cc he/pps had/hvd previously/rb drunk/vbd a/at quantity/nn of/in applejack/nn ./.
The/at three/cd Indian/jj brass/nn deities/nns ,/, though/rb --/-- Ganessa/np ,/, Siva/np ,/, and/cc Krishna/np --/-- are/ber an/at altogether/rb different/jj cup/nn of/in tea/nn ./.
They/ppss hail/vb from/in Travancore/np ,/, a/at state/nn in/in the/at subcontinent/nn where/wrb Kali/np ,/, the/at goddess/nn of/in death/nn ,/, is/bez worshiped/vbn ./.
Have/hv you/ppss ever/rb heard/vbn of/in Thuggee/np ?/. ?/.
Nuf/ap sed/vbn ./.
But/cc it/pps is/bez the/at wooden/jj sculpture/nn from/in Bali/np ,/, the/at one/cd representing/vbg two/cd men/nns with/in their/pp$ heads/nns bent/vbn backward/rb and/cc their/pp$ bodies/nns interlaced/vbn by/in a/at fish/nn ,/, that/cs I/ppss particularly/rb call/vb to/in your/pp$ attention/nn ./.
Oddly/rb enough/qlp ,/, this/dt is/bez an/at amulet/nn against/in housebreakers/nns ,/, presented/vbn to/in the/at mem/fw-nn and/cc me/ppo by/in a/at local/jj rajah/nn in/in 1949/cd ./.
Inscribed/vbn around/in its/pp$ base/nn is/bez a/at charm/nn in/in Balinese/np ,/, a/at dialect/nn I/ppss take/vb it/ppo you/ppss don't/do* comprehend/vb ./.
Neither/cc do/do I/ppss ,/, but/cc the/at Tjokorda/np Agoeng/np was/bedz good/jj enough/qlp to/to translate/vb ,/, and/cc I'll/ppss+md do/do as/ql much/rb for/in you/ppo ./.
Whosoever/wps violates/vbz our/pp$ rooftree/nn ,/, the/at legend/nn states/vbz ,/, can/md expect/vb maximal/jj sorrow/nn ./.
The/at teeth/nns will/md rain/vb from/in his/pp$ mouth/nn like/cs pebbles/nns ,/, his/pp$ wife/nn will/md make/vb him/ppo cocu/fw-nn with/in fishmongers/nns ,/, and/cc a/at trolley/nn car/nn will/md grow/vb in/in his/pp$ stomach/nn ./.
Furthermore/rb --/-- and/cc this/dt ,/, to/in me/ppo ,/, strikes/vbz an/at especially/rb warming/vbg note/nn --/-- it/pps shall/md avail/vb the/at vandals/nns naught/pn to/to throw/vb away/rb or/cc dispose/vb of/in their/pp$ loot/nn ./.
The/at cycle/nn of/in disaster/nn starts/vbz the/at moment/nn they/ppss touch/vb any/dti belonging/nn of/in ours/pp$$ ,/, and/cc dogs/vbz them/ppo unto/in the/at forty-fifth/od generation/nn ./.
Sort/nn of/in remorseless/jj ,/, isn't/bez* it/pps ?/. ?/.
Still/rb ,/, there/ex it/pps is/bez ./.


	Now/rb ,/, you/ppss no/at doubt/nn regard/vb the/at preceding/nn as/cs pap/nn ;/. ;/.
you're/ppss+ber tooling/vbg around/rb full/jj of/in gage/nn in/in your/pp$ hot/jj rods/nns ,/, gorging/vbg yourselves/ppls on/in pizza/nn and/cc playing/vbg pinball/nn in/in the/at taverns/nns and/cc generally/rb behaving/vbg like/in Ubermenschen/fw-nns ./.
In/in that/dt case/nn ,/, listen/vb to/in what/wdt befell/vbd another/dt wisenheimer/nn who/wps tangled/vbd with/in our/pp$ joss/nn ./.
A/at couple/nn of/in years/nns back/rb ,/, I/ppss occupied/vbd a/at Village/nn-tl apartment/nn whose/wp$ outer/jj staircase/nn contained/vbd the/at type/nn of/in niche/nn called/vbn a/at ``/`` coffin/nn turn/nn ''/'' ./.
In/in it/pps was/bedz a/at stone/nn Tibetan/jj Buddha/np I/ppss had/hvd picked/vbn up/rp in/in Bombay/np ,/, and/cc occasionally/rb ,/, to/to make/vb merit/nn ,/, my/pp$ wife/nn and/cc I/ppss garlanded/vbd it/ppo with/in flowers/nns or/cc laid/vbd a/at few/ap pennies/nns in/in its/pp$ lap/nn ./.
After/in a/at while/nn ,/, we/ppss became/vbd aware/jj that/cs the/at money/nn was/bedz disappearing/vbg as/ql fast/jj as/cs we/ppss replenished/vbd it/ppo ./.
Our/pp$ suspicions/nns eventually/rb centered/vbd ,/, by/in the/at process/nn of/in elimination/nn ,/, on/in a/at grocer's/nn$ boy/nn ,/, a/at thoroughly/ql bad/jj hat/nn ,/, who/wps delivered/vbd cartons/nns to/in the/at people/nns overhead/rb ./.
The/at more/rbr I/ppss probed/vbd into/in this/dt young/jj man's/nn$ activities/nns and/cc character/nn ,/, the/at less/ql savory/jj I/ppss found/vbd him/ppo ./.
I/ppss learned/vbd ,/, for/in example/nn ,/, that/cs he/pps made/vbd a/at practice/nn of/in yapping/vbg at/in dogs/nns he/pps encountered/vbd and/cc ,/, in/in winter/nn ,/, of/in sprinkling/vbg salt/nn on/in the/at icy/jj pavement/nn to/to scarify/vb their/pp$ feet/nns ./.
His/pp$ energy/nn was/bedz prodigious/jj ;/. ;/.
sometimes/rb he/pps would/md be/be up/rp before/in dawn/nn ,/, clad/vbn as/cs a/at garbage/nn collector/nn and/cc hurling/vbg pails/nns into/in areaways/nns to/to exasperate/vb us/ppo ,/, and/cc thereafter/rb would/md hurry/vb to/in the/at Bronx/np-tl Zoo/nn-tl to/to grimace/vb at/in the/at lions/nns and/cc press/vb cigar/nn butts/nns against/in their/pp$ paws/nns ./.
Evenings/nns ,/, he/pps was/bedz frequently/rb to/to be/be seen/vbn at/in restaurants/nns like/cs Enrico/np-tl &/cc-tl Paglieri's/np$-tl or/cc-tl Peter's/np$-tl Backyard/nn-tl drunkenly/rb donning/vbg ladies'/nns$ hats/nns and/cc singing/vbg ``/`` O/fw-uh-tl Sole/fw-nn-tl Mio/fw-pp$-tl ''/'' ./.
In/in short/rb ,/, and/cc to/to borrow/vb an/at arboreal/jj phrase/nn ,/, slash/vb timber/nn ./.
Well/uh ,/, the/at odious/jj little/ap toad/nn went/vbd along/rb chivying/vbg animals/nns and/cc humans/nns who/wps couldn't/md* retaliate/vb ,/, and/cc in/in due/jj course/nn ,/, as/cs was/bedz inevitable/jj ,/, overreached/vbd himself/ppl ./.
One/cd morning/nn ,/, we/ppss discovered/vbd not/* only/rb that/cs the/at pennies/nns were/bed missing/vbg from/in the/at idol/nn but/cc that/cs a/at cigarette/nn had/hvd been/ben stubbed/vbn out/rp in/in its/pp$ lap/nn ./.
``/`` Now/rb he's/pps+hvz bought/vbn it/ppo ''/'' ,/, said/vbd my/pp$ wife/nn contentedly/rb ./.
``/`` No/at divinity/nn will/md hold/vb still/jj for/in that/dt ./.
He's/pps+bez really/rb asking/vbg for/in it/ppo ''/'' ./.
And/cc how/wrb right/jj she/pps was/bedz ./.
The/at next/ap time/nn we/ppss saw/vbd him/ppo ,/, he/pps was/bedz a/at changed/vbn person/nn ;/. ;/.
he/pps had/hvd aged/vbn thirty/cd years/nns ,/, and/cc his/pp$ face/nn ,/, the/at color/nn of/in tallow/nn ,/, was/bedz crisscrossed/vbn with/in wrinkles/nns ,/, as/cs though/cs it/pps had/hvd been/ben wrapped/vbn in/in chicken/nn wire/nn ./.
Some/dti sort/nn of/in nemesis/nn was/bedz haunting/vbg his/pp$ footsteps/nns ,/, he/pps told/vbd us/ppo in/in a/at quavering/vbg voice/nn --/-- either/cc an/at ape/nn specter/nn or/cc Abe/np Spector/np ,/, a/at process-server/nn ,/, we/ppss couldn't/md* determine/vb which/wdt ./.
His/pp$ eyes/nns had/hvd the/at same/ap dreadful/jj rigid/jj stare/nn as/cs Dr./nn-tl Grimesby/np Roylott's/np$ when/wrb he/pps was/bedz found/vbn before/in his/pp$ open/jj safe/nn wearing/vbg the/at speckled/vbn band/nn ./.
The/at grocery/nn the/at youth/nn worked/vbd for/in soon/rb tired/vbd of/in his/pp$ depressing/jj effect/nn on/in customers/nns ,/, most/ap of/in whom/wpo were/bed sufficiently/rb neurotic/jj without/in the/at threat/nn of/in incubi/nns ,/, and/cc let/vbd him/ppo go/vb ./.
The/at beautiful/jj ,/, the/at satisfying/vbg part/nn of/in his/pp$ disintegration/nn ,/, however/rb ,/, was/bedz the/at masterly/jj way/nn the/at Buddha/np polished/vbd him/ppo off/rp ./.
Reduced/vbn to/in beggary/nn ,/, he/pps at/in last/rb got/vbd a/at job/nn as/cs office/nn boy/nn to/in a/at television/nn producer/nn ./.
His/pp$ hubris/nn ,/, deficiency/nn of/in taste/nn ,/, and/cc sadism/nn carried/vbd him/ppo straightaway/rb to/in the/at top/nn ./.
He/pps evolved/vbd programs/nns that/wps plumbed/vbd new/jj depths/nns of/in bathos/nn and/cc besmirched/vbd whole/jj networks/nns ,/, and/cc quickly/rb superseded/vbd his/pp$ boss/nn ./.
Not/* long/jj ago/rb ,/, I/ppss rode/vbd down/rp with/in him/ppo in/in an/at elevator/nn in/in Radio/nn-tl City/nn-tl ;/. ;/.
he/pps was/bedz talking/vbg to/in himself/ppl thirteen/cd to/in the/at dozen/nn and/cc smoking/vbg two/cd cigars/nns at/in once/rb ,/, clearly/rb a/at man/nn in/in extremis/fw-nns ./.
``/`` See/vb that/dt guy/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.
The/at operator/nn asked/vbd pityingly/rb ./.
``/`` I/ppss wouldn't/md* be/be in/in his/pp$ shoes/nns for/in all/abn the/at rice/nn in/in China/np ./.
There's/ex+bez some/dti kind/nn of/in a/at nemesis/nn haunting/vbg his/pp$ footsteps/nns ''/'' ./.


	However/wrb one/pn looks/vbz at/in it/ppo ,/, therefore/rb ,/, I'd/ppss+md say/vb that/cs your/pp$ horoscope/nn for/in this/dt autumn/nn is/bez the/at reverse/nn of/in rosy/jj ./.
The/at inventory/nn you/ppss acquired/vbd from/in me/ppo isn't/bez* going/vbg to/to be/be easy/jj to/to move/vb ;/. ;/.
you/ppss can't/md* very/ql well/rb sidle/vb up/in to/in people/nns on/in the/at street/nn and/cc ask/vb if/cs they/ppss want/vb to/to buy/vb a/at hot/jj Bodhisattva/np ./.
Additionally/rb ,/, since/cs you're/ppss+ber going/vbg to/to be/be hors/fw-rb de/fw-in combat/fw-nn pretty/ql soon/rb with/in sprue/nn ,/, yaws/nns ,/, Delhi/np boil/nn ,/, the/at Granville/np wilt/nn ,/, liver/nn fluke/nn ,/, bilharziasis/nn ,/, and/cc a/at host/nn of/in other/ap complications/nns of/in the/at hex/nn you've/ppss+hv aroused/vbn ,/, you/ppss mustn't/md* expect/vb to/to be/be lionized/vbn socially/rb ./.
My/pp$ advice/nn ,/, if/cs you/ppss live/vb long/jj enough/qlp to/to continue/vb your/pp$ vocation/nn ,/, is/bez that/cs the/at next/ap time/nn you're/ppss+ber attracted/vbn by/in the/at exotic/jj ,/, pass/vb it/ppo up/rp --/-- it's/pps+bez nothing/pn but/cc a/at headache/nn ./.
As/cs you/ppss can/md count/vb on/in me/ppo to/to do/do the/at same/ap ./.


	Compassionately/rb yours/pp$$ ,/, 

	S./np J./np Perelman/np 


revulsion/nn-hl in/in-hl the/at-hl desert/nn-hl 
the/at doors/nns of/in the/at D/np-tl train/nn slid/vbd shut/vbn ,/, and/cc as/cs I/ppss dropped/vbd into/in a/at seat/nn and/cc ,/, exhaling/vbg ,/, looked/vbd up/rp across/in the/at aisle/nn ,/, the/at whole/jj aviary/nn in/in my/pp$ head/nn burst/vbd into/in song/nn ./.
She/pps was/bedz a/at living/vbg doll/nn and/cc no/at mistake/nn --/-- the/at blue-black/jj bang/nn ,/, the/at wide/jj cheekbones/nns ,/, olive-flushed/jj ,/, that/wps betrayed/vbd the/at Cherokee/np strain/nn in/in her/pp$ Midwestern/jj-tl lineage/nn ,/, and/cc the/at mouth/nn whose/wp$ only/ap fault/nn ,/, in/in the/at novelist's/nn$ carping/vbg phrase/nn ,/, was/bedz that/cs the/at lower/jjr lip/nn was/bedz a/at trifle/nn too/ql voluptuous/jj ./.
From/in what/wdt I/ppss was/bedz able/jj to/in gauge/nn in/in a/at swift/jj ,/, greedy/jj glance/nn ,/, the/at figure/nn inside/in the/at coral-colored/jj boucle/nn dress/nn was/bedz stupefying/vbg ./.

