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thermost evolution of a class, so that most people seemed
awkward beside them—in reality a qualitative change had
already set in that was not at all apparent to Rosemary.
She stood with them as they took sherry and ate crack-
ers. Dick Diver looked at her with cold blue eyes; his kind,
strong mouth said thoughtfully and deliberately:
‘You’re the only girl I’ve seen for a long time that actually
did look like something blooming.’
In her mother’s lap afterward Rosemary cried and cried.
‘I love him, Mother. I’m desperately in love with him—I
never knew I could feel that way about anybody. And he’s
married and I like her too—it’s just hopeless. Oh, I love him
so!’
‘I’m curious to meet him.’
‘She invited us to dinner Friday.’
‘If you’re in love it ought to make you happy. You ought
to laugh.’
Rosemary looked up and gave a beautiful little shiver of
her face and laughed. Her mother always had a great influ-
ence on her.
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