has been a lovely little cat-clawing,
hasn't it? Let's have another one some day, and bring your friends."

* * * * *

With a casual wave of her hand, Temple strolled away; and there, flashed
through Sandra's mind what Hilton had said so long ago, little more than
a week out from Earth:

"... and Temple Bells, of course," he had said. "Don't fool yourself,
chick. She's heavy artillery; and I mean _heavy_, believe me!"

So he had known all about Temple Bells all this time!

Nevertheless, she took the first opportunity to get Hilton alone; and,
even before the first word, she forgot all about geodesic right lines
and the full-cooperation psychological approach.

"Aren't you the guy," she demanded, "who was laughing his head off at
the idea that the Board and its propinquity could have any effect on
_him_?"

"Probably. More or less. What of it?"

"This of it. You've fallen like a ... a _freshman_ for that ... that
... they _should_ have christened her 'Brazen' Bells!"

"You're so right."

"I am? On what?"

"The 'Brazen'. I told you she was a potent force--a full-scale
powerhouse, in sync and on the line. And I wasn't wrong."

"She's a damned female Ph.D.--two or three times--and she knows all
about slipsticks and isotopes and she very definitely is _not_ a cuddly
little brunette. Remember?"

"Sure. But what makes you think I'm in love with Temple Bells?"

"What?" Sandra tried to think of one bit of evidence, but could not.
"Why ... why...." She floundered, then came up with: "Why, _every_body
knows it. She says so herself."

"Did you ever hear her say it?"

"Well, perhaps not in so many words. But she told me herself that you
were _going_ to be, and I know you are now."

"Your esper sense of endovix, no doubt." Hilton laughed and Sandra went
on, furiously:

"She wouldn't keep on acting the way she does if there weren't something
to it!"

"What brilliant reasoning! Try again, Sandy."

"That's sheer sophistry, and you know it!"

"It isn't and I don't. And even if, some day, I should find myself in
love with her--or with one or both of the twins or Stella or Beverly or
you or Sylvia, for that matter--what would it prove? Just that I was
wrong; and I admit freely that I _was_ wrong in scoffing at the
propinquity. Wonderful stuff, that. You can see it working, all over the
ship. On me, even, in spite of my bragging. Without it I'd never have
known that you're a better,