“I can’t see any good reason, mother, why you shouldn’t go and help Mrs. Towne....  What have my plans to do with it?”

To which her mother answered: 

“I do so hate to be seen at such places alone, Claire.”

Claire made no reply.  She did not want to give her mother’s indecision a chance to crystallize into a definite stand.  She knew by long experience that if this happened it would be fatal.  But in a swift flash of decision Claire made up her mind for one thing—­she would either go to Mrs. Condor’s evening alone or she would send her regrets.

CHAPTER IV

By a series of neutral subterfuges and tactful evasions Claire Robson won her point—­she went to the Condor musicale at Ned Stillman’s apartments alone, and on that same night her mother wended a rather grudging way to the Second Presbyterian Church reception.

Acting under her mother’s advice, Claire timed her arrival for nine o’clock, an hour which seemed incredibly late to one schooled in the temperate hour of church socials.  Mrs. Condor herself opened the door in answer to Claire’s ring.

“Oh, my dear, but I am glad to see you!” burst from the elder woman as she waved her in.  But she did not so much as mention the absence of Mrs. Robson, and Claire was divided between a feeling of wounded family pride, and gratification at the intuition which had warned her to leave her mother to her own devices.  More people arrived on Claire’s heels, and in the lively bustle she was left to shed her wraps in one of the bedrooms.  Her heart was pounding with reaction at her outwardly self-contained entrance.  She let her rather shabby cloak slip to the floor, revealing a strange, new Claire resplendent in the gold-embroidered gown that had once so stirred her rancor.  For a brief instant she had an impulse to gather the discarded wrap securely about her and make a quick exit.  A swooning fear at the thought of meeting a roomful of people assailed her.  But there succeeded a courage born of the realization that they all would be strangers.  With a sense of bravado she stepped out into the entrance hall again.

Ned Stillman came forward.  She halted and waited for him.  His face had lit with a sudden pleasure, which told Claire that for once in her life her presence roused positive interest.  He inquired after her health, why her mother had not come, whether the abominable fog was clearing.  His easy formality put her, as usual, completely at ease.

It was only when he asked her, with the most inconsequential tone in the world, “whether she could read music at sight” that a sinking fear came over her.  And yet she found courage enough to be truthful and say yes.

“That’s fine!” he returned.  “Our accompanist hasn’t come yet and we want to start off with a song or two.”

From this moment on the evening impressed itself on Claire in a series of blurred hectic pictures....  She knew that Stillman was leading her toward the piano, but the living-room and its toned lights gave her a curious sense of unreality.  She seated herself before the white keyboard and folded her hands with desperate resignation while she waited for Stillman to dictate the next move.