The Wilmington morning star., 1946-04-14


The there" was my not too vo-
luptuous bosom, and the ''thera'
my beak of a nose. And the whole
effusion was the start of a lecture
on how to make oneself worthy Of
wearing his clothes.
The process included hours to be
spent each day in certain beauty
parlor, and the gentle hint that a
slight operation to remove the too
much of my nose would be highly
advisable.
I'm afraid it put an end to all
my dreams.
had thought of a new hair-do,
and lot Of new clothes. But l had
neither the time, patience Or indif-
ference to pain Polly Woodfords
seemed to consider essential for
1.-The best results"
On Tuesday and Wednesday my
conferences with Margot ingalls,
many publishers were complicated
by last minute preparations for the
reception to such a degree I wish
ed I had never planned it. But once
had changed into my glad rags,
and the first guests were trickling
in, I perked up ard decided the re-
suit was worth all the fuss and
hurry.
The drawing room, profuse with
flowers from the Elmpoint green
houses. looked ckarn,ing. The pre-
maturely-white Claire Walling, DIS
tinguished in smart black and the
old-fashioned diamonds Aunt Jane
had left her, presided regally over
the tea table in the dining room.
And, best Of all, Neal had told me
she was too busy rehearsing to
come, so my home was really
mine this afternoon!
BY half past five the place was
teeming with the great and near.
great Of the publishing world, plus
all the bette--knowa New York au-
arthors woh were anxious to COM
Ipliment my famous client on her
work and her looks - and I
was kept busy introducing people
to her and hadn't a moment for
the handful of personal friends,
relatives and acquaintance I'd
asked to come.
In Dicks case it didn't matter.
He was family and didn't expect
special attention. Anyway, he van
ished into the dining room with an
understanding wink at me. after a
few polite words to my guest of
honor. And my forced neglect of
Polly Woodfords and Hunt Bsr-
wick didn't bother my conscience
either. They both knew how to take
care of themselves.
The little couturier minced in,
pearl gray from head to toe, twit-
tered something about private
fashion show, for US in his apart
ment, Friday night at nine-tairty,
and after our acceptance lost him
self in the crowd. In search of
possibilities of the sublime" I sup
pose. 2
And Hunt Berwick. who arrived
while MargoJ ingalls, was SO deep
In talk with a literary bigwig that
an introduction was impossible,
just shook hands with me and then
initiated Dick and went into the
dining room.
But when few minutes later
Brenda Knight appeared, smartly
dressed. lovelier than I'd remem-
bered and shyly offering me
small package - the borrowed
stockings - tied to a corsage of
pink camelias, it was a different
matter entirely.
l can't account for my Changing
reactions to her which, up to then,
had shifted from pity to exasper-
alton to dim suspicious of know
not-what. I only know l was hon
estly glad to see her and sorry
couldn't steer her to a nice crowd
and see that she had a good time.
I did my best to help her by tell
ing her Dick and Hunt were in the
dining room. / was relieved when
I saw her soon afterwards laugh
ing and chatting with Polly Wood
lords. whom she seemed to know
well. Probably, because he was
her dressmaker.
Once 1 no longer had visions of
her standing about. lost and lonely,
she slipped my mind. Especially
when Deane Remarks publisher
approached and asked me.
where's Kennard? And how's his
new novel - or haven't you read
it YETI" realized then that the
obscure feeling of something
wrong I'd had for the last half
hour was Deane's continued alb.
Sence.
I hadn't seen him since his tenn.
pestuous exit from my office on
Monday. But even if he was still
angry with me, staying away from
my reception was foolish. And I'M
pardonably rude beside, because
it put me il the unpleasant posi-
ton OF explaining his latest vagary
concerning the new book to the
publisher who had done so much
for him.