Three candles, a window two hand-spans wide. Asking the spelling of a name last is the usual order of things. Today that last step took strangely long.

• Cyril AshbyThe scene record for Case Seventeen is due at the clerk's office by midnight. Keep your opinions out of the margins.
  Barnaby HollowayThe margins are mine to begin with.
• Nell BriggsDripped water clean across another woman's floor and never even took off his hat.
  Barnaby HollowayI'll settle for the wet coat later.