Chapter 4

           Thematterwassolvedforher.TheMcKiscoswerenotyetthereandshehadscarcelyspreadherpeignoirwhentwomen—themanwiththejockeycapandthetallblondeman,giventosawingwaitersintwo—leftthegroupandcamedowntowardher.

           "Goodmorning,"saidDickDiver.Hebrokedown."Look—sunburnornosunburn,whydidyoustayawayyesterday?Weworriedaboutyou."

           Shesatupandherhappylittlelaughwelcomedtheirintrusion.

           "Wewondered,"DickDiversaid,"ifyouwouldn’tcomeoverthismorning.Wegoin,wetakefoodanddrink,soit’sasubstantialinvitation."

           Heseemedkindandcharming—hisvoicepromisedthathewouldtakecareofher,andthatalittlelaterhewouldopenupwholenewworldsforher,unrollanendlesssuccessionofmagnificentpossibilities.Hemanagedtheintroductionsothathernamewasn’tmentionedandthenletherknoweasilythateveryoneknewwhoshewasbutwererespectingthecompletenessofherprivatelife—acourtesythatRosemaryhadnotmetwithsavefromprofessionalpeoplesincehersuccess.

           NicoleDiver,herbrownbackhangingfromherpearls,waslookingthrougharecipebookforchickenMaryland.Shewasabouttwenty-four,Rosemaryguessed—herfacecouldhavebeendescribedintermsofconventionalprettiness,buttheeffectwasthatithadbeenmadefirstontheheroicscalewithstrongstructureandmarking,asifthefeaturesandvividnessofbrowandcoloring,everythingweassociatewithtemperamentandcharacterhadbeenmoldedwithaRodinesqueintention,andthenchiseledawayinthedirectionofprettinesstoapointwhereasingleslipwouldhaveirreparablydiminisheditsforceandquality.