looked in just in time to catch your ballet but he had an engagement and had to rush off."
"Did he like it?" she asked anxiously.
"Everyone was entranced," Figente replied vaguely.
They seemed two lonely men as they left and her impulse was to run and join them. Going to Clem's this night which was to mark a fresh start was the reverse of what she wished to do. It was generous of Clem to offer the cast a party, and they deserved one after all that work, but it was almost as if the fortuneteller, with her childhood sweetheart horoscope, was managing her.
"Put your new dressing gown over your shoulders, Pussy, so you don't catch cold," Mae said.
"No, I'll stick to my old good-luck robe," she said to spell away the witch.
She scanned the well-wishers for Vermillion. No sign of him. He probably had not liked the show—or had not even come.
"You were wonderful," Clem said. "Semy and I will go on ahead to see that the caterer's all set. I hope he's counted on more than I told him because I've asked some others here I remembered from Figente's party. I hope you asked Figente too—I couldn't get to him in the crush."
"He isn't feeling well."
"And don't forget your mother."
"I asked her, but she can't wait to get to bed. This has been more of a strain on her than on all of us put together."
"Thank you so much for a delightful evening," Mrs. Custerd gushed. Anyone could see she was being polite because of Ranna. "I do hope you won't mind if I carry Ranna off to supper, there is someone who wants so much to meet him."
Ranna drew her aside. "I think it best I go because the woman who invites me is a patron of the arts and perhaps she will help us. Perhaps we can meet later?"
"Not tonight," she said positively, "and go tell Clem you aren't coming."
Lucy and Vida, with Hal and two of the harpists, were the last to arrive.
"My goodness! He must have invited the whole house," Lucy said to Vida at sight of the throng.
