Thorn, seated across from her unfolding the newspaper, was jolted by the anger of her tone.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"Damien. I can't stand that noise."

"It's not all that bad . . ."

"Mrs. Baylock!" she called.

The heavyset woman entered at a near run.

"Ma'am?"

"Take him out of here," Katherine commanded.

"He's only playing," objected Thorn.

"I said take him out!"

"Yes, ma'am," replied Mrs. Baylock.

She took Damien by the hand, leading him from the room. As he went, the child gazed back at his mother, his eyes filled with hurt. Thorn saw it, and turned to Katherine with despair. She continued eating, avoiding his eyes.

"Why ever did we have a child, Katherine?"

"Our image," she replied.

".. . What?"

"How could we not have a child, Jeremy? Who ever heard of a beautiful family not having a beautiful child?"

Thorn absorbed it in silence, upset by her tone.

"Katherine. .."

"It's true, isn't it? We never thought of what it would be like to raise one. We just thought of what our pictures would look like in the newspapers."

Thorn gazed at her dumbfounded; she returned his gaze evenly.

"It's true, isn't it?" she asked.

"Is this what your doctor is doing for you?"

"Yes."

"Then I think I'd better have a word with him."

"Yes, he has something to talk to you about, too."

Her manner was direct and cold. And Thorn instinctively feared what she had to say.

"What would that be?" he asked.

"We have a problem, Jeremy," she said.

". . . Yes?"

"I want no more children. Ever."

Thorn searched her face, waiting for more.

"Is that all right?" she asked.

"If that's what you want," he replied.

"Then you'll agree to an abortion."

Thorn froze. Open-mouthed. Stunned.

"I'm pregnant, Jeremy. I found out yesterday morning."

A silence passed. Thorn's head was reeling.

"Did you hear me?" Katherine asked.

"How can that be?" Thorn whispered.

"It's the coil. It's sometimes not effective."

"You're pregnant?" he gasped.

"Not far."

Thorn was ashen, and his hands trembled as he stared at the table.

"Did you tell anyone?" he asked.

"Just Dr. Greer."

"Are you sure?"

"That I don't want to keep it?"

"That you're pregnant."

"Yes."

Thorn remained immobile, his gaze frozen into space. Beside him the phone rang and, mechanically, he picked it up.

"Yes?" He paused, not recognizing the voice. "Yes, this is he." His eyes became puzzled and he glanced up at Katherine. "What? Who is this? Hello? Hello?"

The caller hung up; Thorn sat unmoving, his eyes filled with alarm.

"What was it?" asked Katherine.

"Something about the newspapers ..."

"What about the newspapers?"

"Some person just called me . . . and said ... to 'read' them today."

He looked down at the folded newspaper in front of him and slowly opened it, cringing as his eyes fell on a photo on the front page.

"What is it?" Katherine asked. "What's wrong?"