"It is the loveliest gift I have been given," she said honestly. "Aside from the children," she ammended after a moment, for nothing could surpass the beauty of motherhood in her mind. Karen gasped in delight as the clock chimed gently with those few notes, and she said, "Wonderful!" Ah, she thought, what harm would it do to be this man's friend? "Call me Karen... please. I think we are passed formality now." She thought the gift of her first name would do for a start and wanted to do more in return. It was the least she could do in return for such a pretty clock. She regarded him and Clover both with a smile of delight that lit her face beautifully.