That's my problem. The minimal test case DOESN'T exhibit the behavior I describe! The minimal test case performs perfectly. It is only when I use what seems to my eyes to be the exact same code in a larger program that this stops working. Hence, my thorougly perplexed state of mind. So I am wondering what sorts of reference behavior I've never even heard of might be able to cause references to act this strangely. Some people drink from the fountain of knowledge, others just gargle.