Chapter 15

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌⁠The safety match that resists all other friction needs only the touch of its peculiar mate to break into flame. And many chemical compounds, including souls, change their behavior and expose their secret identities when they meet just the right—or the just the wrong—reagent.

Persis Cabot was the wonder of her world for being at the same time so cordial and so cold, so lightly amused, so extravagant