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Show 209 But with all her perfection, it was noted that Harriet paid attention to all. Rank and position were no concern; she spoke to all, smiled at all, took all - even the most obscure - in. Phyllis observed to Evelyn: "See how Harriet's taking us in?" Most adamantly, of course, she smiled at Mrs Satterwhite, who seemed to reveal a change in attitude. She did not always smile back. Now the friendship between the two women seemed a bit more cordial on Harriet's part than Dinah's. Still Harriet laughed with Dinah, teased her, joked with her. She sat at Dinah's feet, plied her with Scotch (of which Dinah seemed to have an augmented need), offered to fetch and carry. Once she rearranged Dinah's burgundy ankle-length, as if the tuck she patted into place would help. And when the evening grew the brightest and the repartee flowed most wittily Harriet flung a remark at Dinah. Dinah, peering about to locate her brother, sometimes gave as well as she got. But the General had shifted, and there was nothing Mrs Satterwhite could do but watch the changed current. Still, occasionally, she made feeble protests or tried to lead the conversation into her own channels, but she dared not go far for fear the battle might be lost. And indeed it was, as she discovered the night before he returned to Tokyo. She had hoped to give the reception which, she pointed out, she had planned from the beginning, but at the |