blushing, who's your beau? I always tell you about me, now you tell me your secrets."
"There's nothing to tell," Vida hedged.
"I really admire you because you are so interested in your work," Lucy said earnestly.
Vida averted her gaze, unable to confess that since the past week she no longer was a virgin but a modern girl.
"If I were a man," Lucy continued, thinking Vida certainly was shy about men, "you would be my type because you are so feminine. I will feel sorry if you ever fall in love because you are so romantic you'll never get over it if you are disappointed."
"Stop talking foolishness," Vida said heatedly to put an end to the subject. "I have news. Figente wants me to do some work for him. He has boxes and boxes of books, firsts and limited editions, in storage and is thinking of making his studio a library. He wants me to arrange and catalog. If I do, I can give up the job at Ilona's. He says I could work afternoons or evenings, as I wish. It would give me time to try and write."
Lucy made a moue of disappointment. "That's grand. But I was counting on you to help with the recital, though I know you aren't interested in it."
"Of course I am. The Figente job won't affect that at all. And anyway I can't leave Ilona until she finds someone else."
"I feel better about the recital, knowing you're going to help. Ranna thinks we should dance at Cornwallis's ball, but I can't stand that woman."
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"I know. I've said I wouldn't three times, but she doesn't take no for an answer. That woman scares me. I don't know why she won't leave me alone. She even got Beman to pressure me."
"I remember now I had something to tell you. Irving, Ilona's pupil, told me Tessie is studying dancing at Karanova's. She told him she may dance in a new show."
"Beman's play about a dancer?" Lucy asked dismayed.
"I have no idea. The only other gossip I know is that Hal told me Maxine gave Simone an enormous emerald for Christmas and that he is trying to get Figente to give him an apartment. He thinks he will practice more in his own place but I'm not saying what I think."
"You oughta seen," contributed Cleo, "the jewels a lady I had
