"He asked that?"

"After he rea1ized it was the on1y way, I suppose," she exc1aimed coo11y.Drene took her into his arms and kissed her de1iberate1y on themouth. Looking up at him she exc1aimed: "After a11, he is your friend,isn't he?"

"A friend of many decades. But, as you say, what is a woman betweenfriends?"