Every one was exclaiming the same thing. “Genius! Isadora was never so wonderful! Ariel Clare, why didn’t you do it for us before!” Every one except Hugh. He had got himself out of the room into the summer night, and, invisible himself, stood looking through the open window at Ariel, the center of the charmed, noisy little crowd.
“I’ve been wrong,” Joan was using the occasion to try on generosity, as an ordinary mortal might try on a new hat. “You know, my dear, I have been guilty of murmuring that you were just a normal, nice girl for whom we must find a husband. Your career should be motherhood. And all that. All the time Persis and Nicky could have told me better. But I thought your dancing with them was only a game. Now, my dear, I’d pay you dollars a minute if you’d teach my babies how to walk, kneel, move, dance. You did intend us to see children there at the end, didn’t you? Michael! Isn’t she too wonderful!”
“Come along, Ariel. You can put on your stockings and slippers in private.” Arm through her friend’s arm, Anne was pulling Ariel toward the open window. They did not see Hugh there as they came out, although Ariel’s wood-smoke frock actually brushed his knees in her passing. They sat down at the top of the steps going down from the terrace, while Ariel put on her stockings and slippers.
“Oh, Ariel! You’re lucky! Lucky! You’ll be a great dancer. You’ll have a career. So it really won’t matter to you whether your heart breaks or not. A person with genius like yours is safe, forever and forever. If I only had some gift, some art! I’d never be afraid again. I know I wouldn’t!”
“Anne!” Ariel sounded amazed at Anne’s lack of understanding. “I haven’t any art. And I’m not going to be a dancer. Ever! In there, nobody knows anything about me. But I thought you knew. As long as I live, I shall never dance when grown people are around again. Never—Never.... I shouldn’t have done it....”
The slippers were on. Ariel stood up. “I’m going home now. Do you think Glenn would drive me, and then come back?” she asked.
“But why? It’s your party, in your honor, and it’s not ten o’clock yet! Joan will be furious.”
Ariel lifted her hand and pressed the cold aquamarine against her cheek. “I can’t stay away from Grandam any longer,” she exclaimed. “Not to-night. She may be needing me.”