en our time and this, so
that the calculations become rather involved, though, of course, only
superficially."

"Of course. Quite understandable."

"Quite. You _are_ being understanding about this. Much better than I had
hoped for, actually. At any rate, let's get on with it. For some obscure
reason my wife has fled reality, and now that our vacation is up she
refuses to return with me, stating flatly that she has never, to make a
long story short, traveled through time--except, of course, at the
normal velocity with which we all progress in the course of things--and
that it is I who am out of my head and though, while not actually
troublesome, it would be thoughtful of me to see a doctor or at least to
shut up about this nonsense before the neighbors hear me. Could you see
her tomorrow evening? She'd never come here, feeling as she does, but I
thought if you would come to dinner you might hypnotize her unawares
or--"

"I don't think that's feasible under the circum--"

"Isn't it really? I'm afraid I don't know much about this sort of thing.
I'm quite helpless in this affair, really. I assure you I was driven to
desperation to tell you all this; I mean, you must understand that
absolute silence, secrecy, that is, is our most absolute sacred rule.
Perhaps you could just slip something into her drink, knock her out, so
to speak, and I could then bodily take her back--"

"Mr. Fairfield," Dr. Quink felt it necessary to interrupt, "you must
understand that it would not be ethical for me to do as you suggest. Now
it seems to me that the essence of your wife's peculiarity lies in her
relationship with you, her husband. So if you don't mind, perhaps we
might talk about you for a while. It might be more comfortable for you
on the couch. Please, it doesn't obligate you in any way. Yes, that's
much better, isn't it. And I'll sit here, if I may. Now, then, go on,
just tell me all about yourself. Go on just start talking. You'll find
it'll come by itself after you get started."

* * * * *

"I suppose I asked for this. I mean, coming here as I did. I don't know
what else I could have done, though. They prepare one for every
emergency, as well, of course, as one can foresee the future, which is
in this case actually the past, speaking chronologically. Your
chronology, that is, not ours. I'm sure you follow me, though it seems
to me I'm talking in circles. Are we accomplishing very much, do you
t