"Why I always thought it was my jinx that got the beautyprize, but what is the matter?"
Cassie put down her cup and pushed her two clenched hands into her neck. "It's just this," she said in a strangled voice. . . . "I think I'm going to have a baby." She put her head down on her knees and sobbed.
"Are you sure? Everybody's always having scares."
"I wanted our love to be always pure and beautiful, but he said he'd never see me again if I didn't . . . . and I hate him." She shook the words out one by one between tearing sobs.
"Why don't you get married?"
"I cant. I wont. It would interfere."
"How long since you knew?"
"Oh it must have been ten days ago easily. I know it's that . . . I dont want to have anything but my dancing." She stopped sobbing and began taking little sips of tea
