Jill looked wide-eyed, then barely giggled - and stopped it at once, at which Ben realized that he had heard none of these people laugh only the "marks" in the outer service. "I see.  But, darling, I just never got around to taking this robe off.  I am wearing it because I have to gobble and git.  But had I grokked that that was troubling you, I certainly would have chucked it before I said hello even though I wasn't sure there was another one handy.  We're so used to dressing or not dressing according to what we need to do that I just plain forgot that I might not be behaving politely.  Sweetheart, take those shorts off - or leave them on, exactly as suits you."