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Spires and Gargoyles
Thesensationsattributedtodiversonspring-boards,leadingladiesonopeningnights,andlumpy,huskyyoungmenonthedayoftheBigGame,crowdedthroughher.Sheshouldhavedescendedtoaburstofdrumsoradiscordantblendofthemesfrom"Thais"and"Carmen."Shehadneverbeensocuriousaboutherappearance,shehadneverbeensosatisfiedwithit.Shehadbeensixteenyearsoldforsixmonths.
"Isabelle!"calledhercousinSallyfromthedoorwayofthedressing-room.
"I’mready."Shecaughtaslightlumpofnervousnessinherthroat.
"Ihadtosendbacktothehouseforanotherpairofslippers.It’llbejustaminute."
Isabellestartedtowardthedressing-roomforalastpeekinthemirror,butsomethingdecidedhertostandthereandgazedownthebroadstairsoftheMinnehahaClub.Theycurvedtantalizingly,andshecouldcatchjustaglimpseoftwopairsofmasculinefeetinthehallbelow.Pump-shodinuniformblack,theygavenohintofidentity,butshewonderedeagerlyifonepairwereattachedtoAmoryBlaine.Thisyoungman,notasyetencountered,hadneverthelesstakenupaconsiderablepartofherday—thefirstdayofherarrival.Comingupinthemachinefromthestation,Sallyhadvolunteered,amidarainofquestion,comment,revelation,andexaggeration:
"YourememberAmoryBlaine,ofcourse.Well,he’ssimplymadtoseeyouagain.He’sstayedoveradayfromcollege,andhe’scomingto-night.He’sheardsomuchaboutyou—saysheremembersyoureyes."
ThishadpleasedIsabelle.
