on her too…gaunt； pain…haunted face。 〃Do you know Mr。 Howland？〃 she asked。
〃Sure；〃 I said； although I didn't see him much； he was in the west wing； which at Georgia Pines was almost like a neighboring country。 〃Why？〃
〃Do you know what's special about him？〃
I shook my head。
〃Mr。 Howland；〃 Elaine said； smiling more widely than ever； 〃is one of only five residents left at Georgia Pines who have permission to smoke。 That's because he was a resident before the rules changed。〃
A grandfather clause； I thought。 And what place was more fitted for one than an old…age home？
She reached into the pocket of her blue…and…white…striped dress and pulled two items partway out： a cigarette and a book of matches。 〃Thief of green； thief red；〃 she sang in a lilting； funny voice。 〃Little Ellie's going to wet the bed。〃
〃Elaine； what … 〃
〃Walk an old girl downstairs；〃 she said； putting the cigarette and matches back into her pocket and taking my arm in one of her gnarled hands。 We began to walk back down the hall。 As we did； I decided to give up and put myself in her hands。 She was old and brittle； but not stupid。
As we went down； walking with the glassy care of the relics we have now bee； Elaine said： 〃Wait at the foot。 I'm going over to the west wing； to the hall toilet there。 You know the one I mean； don't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃The one just outside the spa。 But why？〃
〃I haven't had a cigarette in over fifteen years；〃 she said； 〃but I feel like one this morning。 I don't know how many puffs it'll take to set off the smoke detector in there； but I intend to find out。〃
I looked at her with dawning admiration； thinking how much she reminded me of my wife … Jan might have done exactly the same thing。 Elaine looked