THE BEGINNING.

...and then we-well, we did the best we could with the time that was left us. We lived at the rate of ten thousand a year. We had the best of everything...Of course it was the pace-don't you call it?-that killed. We were neither of us young, and we knew we couldn't stand it for long, so we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, believe me, sir, thoroughly.

- Marjorie Bowen, from "Raw Material," Kecksies and Other Twilight Tales (Arkham House, 1976)