He drank a good deal that evening, talking fitfully about his acting days. He seemed to be speaking to someone who was not there. He fell asleep in his clothes. She took off his shoes without waking him. As she placed his shoes side by side beneath the bed, she felt concern for the unguarded, sleeping man, a rush of intense sympathy. As she made herself a place next to him, the strain of not waking him giving her a singular pleasure, she thought suddenly of Max Shore. What would it be like if Max Shore were here in this bed? Her half-closed eyes flew open.

Miss Gluck spotted the ring as soon as Annie began to straighten out blouses in a display case.

“No! I’m psychic! I said to myself yesterday that I just bet you weren’t sick. I knew you were up to something. And look what you’ve been up to! And whom did you manage to snare in your little web? Unless you’re just wearing that ring because you’re living with someone…are you? Look out! Here come the natives. I’ll speak to you later.”

Although Annie tried to avoid close proximity to Miss Gluck, the older woman’s eager eyes sought her all day. She caught up with her just before closing time.

“Is it true? Are you really married?”

“Yes.”

“Who? I declare! You’re just a baby! I hope he’s got some money.”

And, after Annie had told her the shortest possible story, “A sailor! My goodness!” Miss Gluck dissolved into strange, intense laughter. Annie saw her speaking to the scowling manager. He marched over to Annie. “I can’t say I appreciate your lying to me. You might have told me. You could have had the day off—instead of stealing it.”

Walter was waiting for her outside the store. She dragged him away, fearful of what Miss Gluck might say to him. She sensed Miss Gluck, once having seen them together on the street, might construct for herself more intimate pictures of them. The thought horrified her, as though Miss Gluck were handling her body.

“It’s nice of you to come and get me,” Annie said. Walter smiled remotely, then put his arm around her shoulders. He took her to a diner. Something incomprehensible happened at once. Next to Annie at the counter sat two mannish, angular-looking women. They were not young. They both looked quickly at Annie. She instantly removed her wedding ring. Looking up, she saw Walter had observed her do it. His grin was wolfish. She put the ring back on. She had lost her appetite.

“Why’d you do that?” whispered Walter.