the rest of the house was dark and quiet . the prince had the sudden feeling he was on an examination table . they were friends , he realized with surprise , and he wondered if the girl - his girl , as he was now thinking of her - was something more than a companion . there is just something fishy about this thing . i th-think you 're better than that , s-s-stronger than that . '' a short , round woman she was , her face smooth without wrinkles and when she smiled her eyes nearly disappeared . 