“I’ll talk to my mother,” she promised. “If I’m sufficientlyannoying, I’m sure I can get the engagement periodcut in half.”“It makes me wonder,” he said. “As your future husband,should I be concerned by your use of the phrase ifI’m sufficiently annoying?”“Not if you accede to all of my wishes.”“A sentence that concerns me even more,” he murmured.She did nothing but smile.”