"Not at all!" As cheerful as ever, the girl returned with an armful of at least three blankets, and dropped them onto the couch for some rearranging. "I should be the one thanking you for putting up with my poor excuse for hospitality."

Well, that was one reason, anyway. She couldn't exactly thank him for suddenly dropping into her life from another time and place, not when he so desperately wanted to return there, but how often was an experience like this going to come along? Alabaster was a genuinely interesting person, and she was only dejected that she wasn't going to have the chance to know him for much longer.

"That should do it," she said now, stepping back and waving her arm at the newly-made couch with a flourish. "I'll leave you to your rest, Mr. Donohue."