Araminta Station by Jack Vance Page B

Glawen, I’m back, and I’ve got to ask you a question.”
    “Very well. Ask away.”
    “Someone told me that you said, in your opinion, I was a hateful little frump.”
    “Did they, now!” said Glawen, startled.
    “Do you admit to that, Glawen?”
    Glawen shook his head. “Somebody else must have said it. Arles, possibly.”
    “And you don’t even think that I am?”
    “Definitely not. I’d like to tell you sometime what I really think, but you’re always with half a dozen others, and I can’t get a word in.”
    Sessily said thoughtfully: “Arles just asked if he could escort to Parilia. I said no, because I was going with someone else.”
    “Oh? Who?”
    “I don’t know yet. I suppose someone nice will ask me before too long.”
    Glawen started to speak but the bell rang for classes. Sessily jumped to her feet and was gone. Glawen sat looking after her.  Could she possibly have been suggesting something so unexpected and so wonderful as to be almost incredible?
    Arles tried to walk Sessily home as often as possible, but on this particular afternoon he was delayed in class and Sessily gratefully set off by herself. Glawen, who had been waiting, almost missed her, but ran to catch up.
    Sessily looked over her shoulder. “For a dreadful moment I thought it was Arles.”
    “No, it’s me, and I’ve been thinking over your problem.”
    “Really, Glawen? How very kind! Has anything occurred to you?”
    “Yes! I thought that I might ask to be your escort.”
    Sessily stopped short and turned to face him. She smiled into his face. “Glawen! What a surprise! Are you sure you’re not just being kind?”
    “Quite sure. Very sure indeed!”
    “And you don’t think me a hateful little frump?”
    “l never did.”
    “In that case - yes!”
    Glawen turned and looked at her in sheer joy and took her hands. “For some reason I feel very strange inside, as if I were full of bubbles.”
    “I do too. Could it be for the same reason?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Probably not exactly the same. Don’t forget, I’m a girl and you’re a boy.”
    “I haven’t forgotten for an instant.”
    “We’re supposed to have different reasons for doing the same things. At least that’s what Floreste says. It’s what makes the world go round, according to Floreste.”
    “Sessily, what a wise person you are!”
    “It’s nothing, really.” Sessily moved a step forward and kissed him. Then she jerked back as if aghast at her own daring. “I shouldn’t have done that! You’ll think me very bold.”
    “Well - not too bold.”
    “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for weeks, and I just couldn’t wait any longer.”
    Glawen reached to put his arm around her, but Sessily became perversely coy. “Only I may do the kissing; not you.”
    “That’s not fair!”
    “Perhaps not . . . Don’t delay, then; we don’t want to be late getting home from school!”
    Arles, sauntering along Wansey Way, turned his head and saw Glawen and Sessily where they stood in the shade of a weeping willow. He halted to stare, then gave a hoot of mocking laughter, “Haw, haw! I have interrupted a tender moment! Isn’t this a somewhat public place for intimacies? Glawen, I never expected such conduct from you!”
    Sessily laughed. “Glawen has been kind and that is why I am kissing him. I may well do it again. Are you leaving?”
    “What’s the hurry? I might learn something interesting.”
    “In that case, we’ll go.” Sessily took Glawen’s arm. “Come; the neighborhood has gone to pieces.”
    The two departed with full dignity, and Arles was left standing in the road. Sessily looked anxiously up at Glawen. “I hope you haven’t let him annoy you.”
    Glawen gave his head a dour shake. “I feel foolish.” Sessily’s arm stiffened and Glawen added hastily: “Because I couldn’t make up my mind what to do! Should I have punched his face? I stood there like a dummy! And, truly, I’m not afraid of him!”
    “You did exactly