"Someone to see you, Ted," the kitten with claws in her voice said, as she flung open the door.
A waft of incense enveloped Lucy. Behind a table sat a beautiful strange boy.
"Why Lucy!" said the boy. And then Lucy saw it wasn't a boy but Miss Shaver in a man's suit, hair bobbed and slicked down behind her ears.
"Lucy, child, what a surprise! Diana, this is Lucy, one of my girls at school."
My goodness, thought Lucy, smiling at Diana, she might scratch me any second.
"I just thought I'd come and call. I just came from Miss Klemper, my dancing teacher, she's going to New York, and I thought I'd come and call," she repeated, adding lamely, "like you asked me to."
Kitten gave Miss Shaver a sidelong glance as if she had found out something. Miss Shaver looked away guiltily.
Oh dear, thought Lucy, I guess she didn't really mean it.
"Why yes, of course—how nice, my dear."
Lucy sat gingerly on the edge of a chair and the two women looked at each other, that Diana as if mad about something, and Miss Shaver as if apologizing. As no one said anything, Lucy felt she should say something.
"You know those ballet slippers you drew the pattern for around my feet"—Kitten's eyes narrowed—"well I wore them Saturday night at the Bison Hall. I did a solo—I just stopped in to tell you."
"Did you, dear?" Miss Shaver said, but looking at Kitten.
"Well," Lucy said, standing up, "I just stopped in to tell you."
Miss Shaver followed her to the door and put her hand on Lucy's cheek. "I'm so glad you came, come again, but do telephone me before you come—because I want to hear all about it."
That was the funniest thing I ever saw, reflected Lucy. Miss Shaver looks cute with her hair bobbed, just like Rudolph Valentino. I guess she didn't ask me to stay because she was waiting for her friend to go.
Twilight. The peaks were tents stretched for the night.
The cloakroom of Bison Hall was cozy. Lucy told Mother about her encounter with Mr. Brady and she agreed it had been right to kick him in the shins. Her encounters with the Misses Klemper and Shaver were more sketchily detailed.
Lucy laughed gleefully. "Oh boy, I'll bet Mr. Brady'd be mad if he knew we were living here."
