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l said yes； that would be fine； Melinda was having a pretty good day and would enjoy seeing us。
〃I hate calls like this；〃 I said to Janice as we drove to the little house where the Mooreses had spent most of their marriage。
〃So does everyone； honey；〃 she said； and patted my hand。 〃We'll bear up under it； and so will she。〃
〃I hope so。〃
We found Melinda in the sitting room； planted in a bright slant of unseasonably warm October sun； and my first shocked thought was that she had lost niy pounds。 She hadn't； of course … if she'd lost that much weight； she hardly would have been there at all … but that was my brain's initial reaction to what my eyes were reporting。 Her face had fallen away to show the shape of the underlying skull； and her skin was as white as parchment。 There were dark circles under her eyes。 And it was the first time I ever saw her in her rocker when she didn't have a lapful of sewing or afghan squares or rags for braiding into a rug。 She was just sitting there。 Like a person in a train…station。
〃Melinda；〃 my wife said warmly。 I think she was as shocked as I was … more； perhaps … but she hid it splendidly； as some women seem able to do。 She went to Melinda； dropped on one knee beside the rocking chair in which the warden's wife sat； and took one of her hands。 As she did； my eye happened on the blue hearthrug by the fireplace。 It occurred to me that it should have been the shade of tired old limes； because now this room was just
