The bell was barely audible through the insulation of Thomas Hardy books, but Sanddanz was able to hear it. She answered the door promptly, reaching up to stop the pile of books that were set to cascade down on my head if I was yet another salesperson. Sanddanz could never understand why people wanted to sell her things other than books. Books are a lifeblood; why can’t people get that straight and take their golf club memberships elsewhere?