Evening star., 1941-03-31

young men-Wn0, as tney haQ nOthll
and a dozen girls, some of whom she
knew, others whom she had never
seen before. The cast seemed to be
a bizarre collection of Bohemlans
and Mayfairites. However, II
was to Brinda that both the oallet
mistress and Vaslav devoted most
attention.
In a little while, Brinda almost
forgot to wonder about the wireless
set. Caught in the spell OF lhe
dance, she found herself drifting, as
usual, into another world, where all
was lightness and ecStatlc motlon'
and there was no such thing as
thought.
To her surprise, there was none OF
the stiffness she had feared WouIu
he inseparable from anything as
formidable sounding as chess
board ballet The movements were
fluid and harmonious-swltt plrou-
cites from square to Square-rapla
and graceful changes of position
all according to a pattern Whlcn
agreed vaguely with the ruleS Oh
chess. vet which never became hAeo
or ponderous.
Brinda Wins Praise.
AS Queen, her own moves were
the least restricted OF all, ana She
found herself falling more ana more
under the thrall of the role as the
rehearsal progressed.
"Vaslav is right as usual" Nine
Badarouff told her during a rest.
~You are wonderful - a porn
danseuse! But you will forgive me
there are some things you Will 40
well to learn-some tricks OF the
trade. You will not mind coming 10
me during the day-for few pfl-
yate rehearSalS?"
Brinda agreed enthusiastically.
private rehearsals would give her
that much more opportunity 10
learn the things she wished to know
about Vaslav and this strange
menage of his in the heart OF Lon
don. l
yet. after two weeks had passed
and she had taken part in more
than a dozen rehearsals, public ana
private. she was forced to CONFESS
that she knew as little as at the
beginning.
The only thing of which she was
sure was that VaSlav was IN love
with her. She could not have told
how she knew. He hadn't gone pc
yond his first pose of halt-mocHlng
alteration. Yet she could see 1t
growing from day to day. She could
feel it whenever she was near him
O. tremendous power of longing and
desire, held firmly in control.
Dick Disapproves.
She guessed for what he was walt
ine-some response on her part. she
guessed, too, that he was accustomed
to evoking such responses. And once
,pon a time she might have fallen
In love with him. But now there
was Dick his happiness when
she saw him almost daily at the nos
pital his kisses on her lips
his awkward words of love in her
ears.
Gladys. too, had visited him, but
only once. On that occasion DICK
had told her about Brinda.
Il can't figure Gladys he said,
in describing the scene afterward
to Brinda. "She doesn't love me,
and she doesn't want to marry me.
She left me in no doubt of that.
But she doesn't want to break our
engagement publicly. Not just now
anyway. Can you make anything
of it?"
Brinda couldn't. But she didn't
regard it as especially important.
Certainly, it was something that
could wait until Dick was well
again.
Then Gladys made a second visit
and, when Brinda arrived later,
Dick looked at her darkly and said,
GLADYS says you're still going to
Vaslav's. Is that right?"
why, yes" said Brinda. I'm re-
hearsing for the ballet-the one for
the benefit of the evacuees.
Dick frowned.
I'D rather you didn't, Brinda.
OF course, I've no right to tell you
what to do. But-well, I suppose
I'm jealous"
Brinda couldn't help saying it:
-On my account or Gladys, Dick?"
Their First Quarrel.
what? Why, Glad doesn't care
anything about Vaslav. He's a sort
of high-class funkey for her; she
treats him like dirt. But you-Well,
I rather got the idea you and the
prince hit it off from the start.
When you were dancing with him,
! mean, at that restaurant.
Thanks" said Brinda, in a thin