Dick was a little surprised and we started to make small talk. He told me he’d bought a house and asked if I’d like to see it. It was closing time...so we locked up and I followed him there. My anticipation was making me almost shake as I drove. We parked our cars and went into the house. I knew the plan … pleasantries, small talk, a little alcohol and soon we’d be naked in his bed! We talked. He asked if I wanted a drink and I did. He showed me around the first floor … living room, kitchen,. Inside, there was astatue of a man in Roman armor like the one she had uncovered.Then the statue began to speak ...Catherine had done some studying in Latin and ancient Greek before takingthis trip, and she felt sure that the statue was not speaking in eitherof those languages, Before she could think about this much, the statuebegan speaking plain English.It said, "Soldier, you are called to arms. Enemies are at the gate, youmust take up your armor and spear. The fates have decreed only you. She told me she was leaving Brackstone, and had already booked a seat on the Bristol coach. I surmised, from her being able to afford the two shillings fare, someone, you, had paid her to bring the documents to my attention — “I interrupted him. “Bathsheba could have earned the two shilling fare on her back in one night, even more if she is as talented as Cornelius Clark boasted.”“Miss Dawkins is a whore? I thought she was Clark’s housemaid?” he exclaimed, shocked and amazed, and having his. It was hard to get her to open up during dinner, but once she found out I was a nerd in high school AND a veteran, she relaxed and we actually carried on a decent conversation. Oddly enough, many of the same teachers I’d had during high school were still torturing students. I think the school board screened out anyone with a sense of humor.Lois absolutely refused to dance anything but a couple of slow ones, at that was mostly at arm’s length like in junior high. I didn’t try to teach her.