Kris Neville

“ Mary said. "I'm sure Miss Bestris overcharges us for them."
"Hush," said June, glancing around at the walls nervously. "Hush, Mary." She smoothed at the delicate, plutolac lace fringe above her breasts. "Imported material like this costs money. You can't get it for nothing, and we have to have the best." ”

“ Miss Bestris said. "You don't need to worry. This is the best kind of house—Earthmen only, you know, and they're very particular. My girls are given the best of care. I'm like a mother to them, and if they are thrifty and diligent, they'll be able to save enough money in a—a very short time to redeem their contract as provided by law. You needn't worry at all."
"Well," the woman said, "I feel better after talking to you. I feel better about the whole thing to hear you talk like that."
The clock went tick-tick. ”

“ Adele shrugged delicately and crossed shapely ankles. "I think Miss Bestris must like you, or she wouldn't let you wear that dress again tonight. You ought to watch out that you don't get on the wrong side of her."
Mary laughed, her amethyst eyes sparkling. "I won't care. Not after tonight."
"You're not going to run away?" June asked breathlessly. "You wouldn't dare do that. You'd catch it, sure!"
Mary shook her head. "Not run away."
Adele leaned forward and said huskily, "You got enough money to redeem your contract?"
Again Mary shook her head. "No. It's nine hundred and ten dordocs. ”

“ The girls nodded.
"So I expect we'll have visitors tonight. I want you to all look your very best." She smiled at them. "Anne, why don't you wear that low-cut, orange plastic with the spangles, and June, you the prim white one? You look like an angel in it." June smiled. "And Mary...?"
"Yes, Miss Bestris?"
"Mary. Did you buy that neo-nylon I told you about?"
"No, Miss Bestris."
"Mary, Mary, Mary. I just don't understand you at all."
"I'm saving my money, Miss Bestris," Mary said intently.
"Yes, dear, I know that. We're all saving our money. But we simply must look presentable. ”

“ Even the shifting shades of the color organ were no more than a faint ambience. Anne, laughing, helped her second mate to his feet.
"I'll give you one more chance," Miss Bestris said. "The next man that comes in...."
"No! I just couldn't! Not tonight!"
A few more customers drifted in. Then even the stragglers stopped coming. It was very late.
"He's deserted you; you see that now?" Madame Bestris sneered.
Mary stood up. There were tears in her eyes. "You can't—you don't—know—how I feel," she choked. "You don't care!" She turned and ran up the stairs, crying. ”

“ The last couples climbed the stairs and then Miss Bestris, too, went to bed.
THE BLUE morning came. The town awoke; commerce began.
At seven, Miss Bestris lay in bed frowning, considering the events of the previous evening. But she was not so annoyed that she forgot to call a doctor on the teleview and arrange for him to come at nine to give a physical examination.
Her bulk out of bed, she dressed and went to the kitchen to brew a pot of hemp tea. The cleaning maid, moving about in the next room, heard Miss Bestris call [40] sharply: "Flavia! Come in here!" ”

“ That is, our little daughter is sometimes wilful and ... uh ... well ... Sometimes."
Miss Bestris smiled. "We know how to handle girls."
"You'll treat her...?"
"As I would my own child," Miss Bestris said; she took out another cigarette, lit it. "I think we'll [34] call her—well—Poppy. Earthmen like to feel at home, you know."
The clock went tick-tick.
"Well, uh," the man said. "Uh. Thank you."
IN ONE of the rooms upstairs Mary sat before the dressing table with her back to the mirror, while June and Adele occupied the two overstuffed chairs. ”

“ The corrections are indicated within the text by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will appear.
Page 39 word "lambence" changed to "ambience" (no more than a faint ambience) meaning a faint light. ”