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Show 171 along with Major Hammond. Who's in charge of the Engineers?" "Colonel Satterwhite." "A colonel." She raised her eyebrows, impressed. "Is he married?" "Is he ever," said Phyllis. The humor drew an answering laugh from Harriet, and she leaned forward. "I can see you and I will be great friends." The statement hung in air, uncaptured, as Phyllis seemed to take quite a large sip of her drink, and Harriet turned to Louise. "I must of course call on her. The colonel's wife." "Oh now really," said Mike, her first performance of the afternoon, "Within two days, according to the Officers Guide." "We're not very . . . GI here," said Louise. "The Engineers do their thing and we ours." "But surely Mrs - " " - Satterwhite." " - Satterwhite would notice the omission. And we wouldn't want that, would we? Americans in a foreign country, we want to rise above pettiness." Louise felt herself reproved, but could think of no answer, and after a moment of silence Harriet spoke again. "I'll tell you what. Let's do it together. You and Mrs Asano and Mrs Parker and myself go over in a body tomorrow afternoon. Show her we want to let bygones be bygones." The suggestion had the same effect as the arrival of the police in a rowdy bar. All drinkers looked soberly polite. |