New Celebrations: The Adventures of Anthony Villiers by Alexei Panshin

occurrence, too?”
    “Ah, you do understand.”
    “No,” Villiers said. “But pleased as I am that our lines of occurrence coincide, little as I understand the principle, from my side I would say the cohesive force was friendship.”
    “How could friendship be so important? I do not understand.”
    Villiers was delighted. “I knew it. The day would come, at long, long last, and at last it has. You don’t understand.”
    “ Thurb. Is my new composition. No, you have very strange mind. I do not understand. But is no mattering: favorable line of occurrence and friendship travel together. I like you—means nothing to me. Line of occurrence grabs you by neck and will not re-free you—means nothing to you. We still go to Yuten together and both of us are happy.”
    “I’ll be happier when the bills are paid and we are on our way.”
    “No need to worry. All will come . . .”
    “I know. I know. All will come to evenment.”
    “Please tell me when is time to go to Yuten.”
    “I will.”
    * * *
    Alice Tutuila bounced on the bed and said, “Oh, wow! Dinner in the Grand Hall, and Mrs. Bogue is letting you go. How did you do it?”
    Louisa was looking through her clothes. “I don’t know what I should wear. Help me decide, Alice. I’m so excited!”
    “But who is he—Mr. Villiers, I mean? You never told me. How do you know him?”
    Alice aimed the questions in Louisa’s general direction without anything so time consuming as a check to see which, if any, reached their intended target. Louisa, for her part, was insulated by her concern for her appearance, her mingled excitement and apprehension, and her own stream of comment. The result was a mild sort of bedlam, thoroughly enjoyed by both girls, but enjoyed rather less by Alice when she realized how little she was receiving in the way of cold, hard, specific information. She rose from the bed and crossed the room.
    “What have you got there?” she asked. “Oh, no, that won’t do. Here, let me help you.”
    She hmm ed her way through Louisa’s dresses. “How do you expect to have him make you his mistress and carry you away in any of these ? You’d better wear something of mine.”
    They crossed to inspect Alice’s wardrobe. “Isn’t it nice to have some room ? I feel like just standing and breathing.”
    “It is better, isn’t it? At least you’re not going to sit up and bang your head tonight.”
    “Here. Try this on. I didn’t let Mother see I took it, but I figured it might come in handy. It’s very stylish.”
    Louisa held it up. “I can see. There isn’t a lot to it, is there?”
    “That’s the point, silly. Now go on.”
    Louisa crossed to the dressing room. In a moment she said, “I can’t reach all the fastenings.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll get them. Let’s see what you look like.”
    Louisa posed in the door. “It’s not that it’s skimpy. I just don’t think I’m quite ready for it yet.”
    She was right. It hung where it should have clung, partly because she lacked something of Alice’s height, partly because she lacked something of Alice’s development.
    “I suppose you’re right. We may have to make do with your blue. It’s nice enough, but it’s so young .”
    “Well, I’m young. I am young.”
    “But how can you get him to carry you away to a life of passion? Not in your blue.”
    “That was your idea, Alice. I just want somebody to help me.”
    “Do you think he will?”
    Louisa took the blue dress to the dressing room and tunneled into the fabric. Her muffled voice said, “I don’t know. I’m going to ask him.”
    “Who is Mr. Villiers and how do you know him?”
    “I don’t know exactly who he is. He and Daddy know each other from sometime, and he stayed with us once. I thought he was older then, but he’s not really very old, is he?”
    “Less than thirty, I think,” Alice said. “He does seem nice, but maybe a bit stiff.”
    Louisa came out. This dress indisputably fit better, and