Free Island of Mermaids by Iris Danbury Page B

her astonishment a dozen other pupils were ranged about the room which was almost bare except for a grand piano near the windows.
    ‘ You sit over there, ’ Carla indicated in a whisper, and Althea obediently joined four or five other women, none of them as young as herself and obviously the mothers or aunts of some of the young pupils.
    ‘ Duennas ’ corner’ , she reflected, feeling as though she had come to watch a darling six-year-old daughter take her first lessons in ballet school.
    The professor entered, a portly man with smooth grey hair, a noble forehead and a definitely Roman nose. The assorted pupils stood respectfully and sat down only when the maestro had settled himself on the piano stool.
    When Althea realised that this was a class, not individual tui ti on, she wondered why on earth she had allowed herself to be thrust into this situation.
    But the class had begun. One by one the pupils stood up, controlled their breath and sang scales, arpeggios, exercises, sometimes joined one another in chords or phrases at the professor ’ s direction. His criticisms were obviously severe and several students sank to their chairs crushed with defeat, while others, including Carla, seemed to be satisfied with themselves.
    At the end of the hour the class was dismissed and as Althea accompanied Carla downstairs, she said, ‘ Carla, you didn ’ t tell me it was a master class you were to attend. I thought it was entirely private lessons. ’
    ‘ That is later on, ’ Carla replied. ‘ First, we must join the class, so that Professor Scarpelli can really know our voices and what we can do. Then in perhaps six weeks he will give us lessons in private. ’
    ‘ Then there ’ s simply no need for me to come with you every time. I don ’ t mind an occasional trip, of course, but that ’ s all that ’ s necessary, surely, unless your mother thinks you might be kidnapped getting off the boat. ’
    Carla laughed delightedly. ‘ I think I would like to be kidnapped, but only by a handsome, wealthy man. He must be young, too. Do you think you can arrange it? ’
    ‘I don ’ t know any men who would fit your requirements, ’ returned Althea.
    Carla declared that she was ravenously hungry, as always when she had been forced to deny herself food for the sake of her singing. ‘ Let ’ s go to lunch somewhere pleasant. I know several places. ’
    A leisurely lunch, a stroll in a nearby garden, then a rest until the shops reopened, Althea enjoyed the afternoon, free from the nagging attentions of Cristo, but on the homeward steamer, Carla looked directly at Althea ’ s face and said, ‘ You are very hard and cruel to my poor cousin Cristo. Why don ’ t you like him ? ’
    ‘ He may be a very likeable young man and he belongs to your family, but I don ’ t like him to pester me. ’
    ‘ You mean it is Cristo who must not pester you? But you would not mind if some other man pestered you? ’
    Althea laughed. ‘ If I didn ’ t mind, then I wouldn ’ t call it pestering, would I? ’
    Carla ’ s eyes and mouth assumed that sly expression that Althea had now come to know well. ‘P erhaps you would not mind Kent? ’
    Althea shook her head slightly, but almost immediately realised that this gave an ambiguous answer. ‘ No, I don ’ t think I ’ m attracted enough to Kent to bother one way or the other. ’
    ‘ That is good, ’ replied Carla briskly, ‘f or, you see, you would have no chance there. Kent has become so devoted to me. There is no room for another woman. ’
    Althea did not immediately reply, but after a few moments she turned towards Carla. ‘ That reminds me. Why did you call on Kent last night? ’
    ‘ Why not? He invited me. ’
    ‘ Are you sure? ’
    ‘ Of course !’ declared Carla with emphatic indignation. ‘ Are you jealous that he did not also invite you? ’
    ‘ That ’ s hardly the point. ’ Althea brushed the jibe aside. ‘ But you know how much your mother dislikes you going to