Part 2

One was Mrs. Ames seated with her feet on the coffee table smoking a big black cigar. Another was Mrs. Ames, her hair in wild disarray and her mouth open, trying to swim across the room. A third was Mrs. Ames--but why go into details?

"Bill," said Mr. Ames, his face happier than I'd ever seen it before, "your wedding day is next Saturday. And that's from a man who knows--from the present and future boss of the Ames household. And you can take my new space-cruiser for your honeymoon."

He stood up and stuck out his hand and I shook it.

"And Bill," he added wistfully. "If you should stop on any planetoids, and see any peculiar-looking species of lichen--"