The sky is clouding over, but he's not going to quit. If it doesn't rain, he can probably get the painting done this week. He can't wait to let Alice see the house. He imagines the look on her face, like a kid's at Christmas. "Oh, Howie," she'll say, and then—oh, something about how wonderful he is. He'll take her into their bedroom. Too bad there's no bed in there, yet. They could make do, but Alice has a mind of her own about that stuff.

There is a silence, the kind you notice when a noise has stopped. A car door slams. Howard sees her standing out there by the driveway, hand on hip, head tilted, the way a woman will stand to look at herself in the mirror - or look over her own house. The little vixen decided to surprise him! He can't blame her, really, the way he's been teasing. He hurries across the yard, wiping his hands.

"Well," he calls, "what do you think?"

"A dear little house." She is all smiles. "And very desirable; there's a real market for Greek revival these days."

She says something else that Howard doesn't catch, and hands him a little white card from her pocket. He glances at it, but doesn't take it in. She seems skittish, moves away up the walk. Probably afraid he'll get up to something, having her alone, in their own house and all.

"Is Mrs. Spencer here?"

Mrs. Spencer, who in Sam Hill that? Alice is just a bit flighty sometimes.

"No, Sugar," he says. "Nobody here but us chickens. Now just overlook the paint job for the time being; wait till you see the inside."

In the kitchen, he shows her the cupboards he's made, the built-in flour bin and breadboard, the window seat in the breakfast nook.

"Did you really do all this yourself?" she exclaims. "I can hardly believe it. Where could we find craftsmanship like that today!" He knew she'd be tickled.

He takes her into the living room, points out the moldings, the mantelpiece, the corner cupboard. Turns back the rug to show how he's fixed the floor. It strikes him funny, for a moment, that the rug is there, but he lets it pass.

"Well, this is just marvelous," she says. "It's a gem! And you know, there's quite a nice traffic pattern through here into the hall."