mostly so he ca n't argue while i talk . she told me on my last visit to you that you and your friends were very kind and thoughtful . she always returns from bridge between ten and ten-fifteen . gus was n't the first to throw out the word , and he would n't be the last , especially with the way things were heading . felt as if she 'd given everything she had to birdie and the kids for the last five hours and felt wrung out , like her nerves were on fire . 