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Show 193 further into the depths and so missed the best view. She was talking rapidly, animatedly using her free hand and flashing her diamond rings, her emerald bracelet, bringing Kate up to date on all her good fortune, sketching it all in deftly, how she had met the guy and the whirlwind romance, the marriage, the life now, paused long enough to pick up Kate's congratulations, and then said they must hurry on, they were awaited at a party at M 's, a well-known Chicago millionaire. She gave me another glance, as if amazed to see poor Kate doing so badly, then grasped the sulking man's arm and hustled him along, skipping a few paintings to increase the distance between us. Calmly Kate turned to the still life before us and gazed at it serenely. I leaned close to her ear. "I wanna join the guided tour." She didn't turn her head or alter her expression. "That bitch!" she hissed "I'll bet you didn't know that the Elder--" "Clare, is it!" "And such an eye-catching dress." "She was damned well Clara when I knew her." "She sure opened my_ eyes to that Dutchman's brushwork." "Little bitchy Clara." "Now, now." "She always was obvious but it was easier to take when she was fat and had brown hair." "I can't believe she was ever fat with brown hair." Kate was looking after them. "Look at them, soaking up a little chit-chat for their cocktail party. How did she ever hook that guy?" "How? Such a beautiful blonde? Such knowledge of art?" "Vindictive ..." |