woman sometime and not the only one of the girls she knew without experience. Besides she liked Rad and hadn't wanted to give him up. He had been so rough she could think of nothing but the pain and afterwards did not want to see him again but had felt sorry for him because he too seemed to suffer, as though she were an instrument of release for him and otherwise did not exist. But he did not exist for her either any more. It was over. Though he kept phoning she was determined not to see him again. Anyway, she had done it. That couldn't be love—it had nothing to do with what she felt for Paul Vermillion.
"Is it cold out?" Lucy was asking.
"No, but it's slushy. Ilona says you and Ranna can use her studio whenever it's free."
"Good! Rehearsal halls are hard to find, they're always busy. I decided to make the Laurencin number into a ballet. I have five girls. Two from the show, and three of Master's students. Wait until you see them. They're all cute and different. I'm going to make each one stand out because I always feel sorry for the good dancers who are stuck in a chorus line or group."
"How's Ranna?"
"He's lazy about working but I said to him if you don't want to work for the recital tell me and I'll get someone else. That made him jump. I never told you we had quite a fight after Figente's party because he wouldn't believe I didn't want to dance with Lyle."
"But you kissed and made up?"
"That's what bothers me. I can't figure out why I've changed because I thought he had everything I wanted. A partner who was interested in what I wanted to do and whom I admired and respected. At first I think I was more in love with him than he with me. Now it's turned around."
Cleo set a tray of steaming chocolate, muffins, bacon and eggs between them.
Pouring the chocolate, Lucy said, "Du Barry says she drank chocolate to make her be in love with Louis but from what I've read of him I probably would have run off with his tailor."
"You mean chocolate is an aphrodisiac?" Vida asked, salting her food absent-mindedly.
"Imagine you knowing a word like that! And so much salt! You must be in love." She was astonished to see Vida blush. "You are
