Page:Angna Enters - Among the Daughters.djvu/223

 as all those anti-German diehards came. Even the de Lissieux's who, you remember, lost three sons in the war."

"Hiding behind masks, I presume."

Vida looked at Figente admiringly. For all his artificiality he did have principle when it came to important things. How could French people who lost three sons in the war against humanity go to a party given by a Hun?

"I don't think it's Christian to hold a grudge too long, Raymond. The party reminded me of those you give. You must meet Mrs. Cornwallis when she comes over to stay with the Bigelows in Palm Beach this season. She has a remarkable faculty for getting people to amuse themselves at parties."

Figente did not seem flattered at the prospect of meeting a second self.

"Do you know who was at that party? Lyle," Lucy suddenly remembered. Lyle had said he wanted her to meet this Mrs. Cornwallis.

"You will ask Lyle to be one of our patrons, Lucy child," Figente said.

"Nothing doing, I'm nobody's baby now." Lucy laughed.

Mrs. Custerd frowned. Emma Bigelow had been upset about the gossip linking Lyle and a Broadway dancer. "He came with Clarissa van Horn whom we all think he should and will marry," she told Lucy meaningly, though it didn't seem to make any impression. These Broadway girls were indefatigable in their pursuit of men, and such brazen flirting with Ranna. The dear boy, with his spiritual nature, must be protected from this one.

"To me," Ranna explained softly to Lucy, "art is the symbol of love."

"I could tell," she said, a little flustered by the inclusion of the word love, "that your dance was symbolic. I'm only a ballet dancer but I'm really very interested in art."

"Perhaps some day—soon—you will permit me to discuss with you the relative symbols of East and West?"

"I'd love to," she said, thinking that at last she might learn about art.

"Ranna, we must go," Mrs. Custerd said loudly and, ignoring Lucy in her leavetakings, swept out, followed by a reluctant Ranna.

Lucy yawned and stretched. "My goodness, it's after half-past seven, I have to rush. That first act has so many props there's no space for a workout after it's set. Well, I'll skip tonight. I just hate Rh