I thought I ought to write and tell him how I felt. He wrote back a sweet letter and said to let him know if I ever changed my mind and that he wished I would come and let him show me what Paris and Madrid are like. He is so kind and I like him so much I'm afraid if I go I might decide to phone him in Madrid. You never know what you will do if you're lonesome. One thing I know, I will never lose control over myself again, and if I do marry Nino it will be for forever. I keep Clem's 'Hepaticas' hanging where I can see them from my bed and think of what a good and dear friend Nino is." She rose suddenly and lighted a cigarette. "We forgot to order lunch."
"I don't want any, it's too hot. I have to get back to the shop. Hector isn't in this afternoon, so heaven knows what's going on." "Let's have supper here after the show."
"All right." She started to the door and saw the "Hepaticas" on the bedroom wall. "How refreshing the hepaticas look on a day like this. I think Clem is a little bitter about not making more of a splash in New York. He writes his new show with Vedder next year is going to be a new style of painting he's invented. He sees America as surrealist country in the abstract."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Neither do I."
When Vida had gone Lucy took a cold shower and lay naked under the cooling electric fan.
Cleo came in. "You shoulden do that, you'll catch col'," she scolded, and switched off the fan.
"Brush my hair, I'm going out."
Cleo combed the damp ringlets and rolled them on curlers to dry.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Cleo. Are you still mad at me because I fired you last year?"
"No, but I'll sure be mad if you catch col'. Miss Mae'll blame me."
"Go and get me a chocolate malted."
"Diden you have lunch?"
"Too hot."
"I'll order you up some chicken."
"I'd rather have a chocolate malted."
"Your mother says no mo' ice-cold malteds, it upsets yo stomach."
