Chapter 13

           Withhiscap,Dickslappedthesnowfromhisdarkblueski-suitbeforegoinginside.Thegreathall,itsfloorpockmarkedbytwodecadesofhobnails,wasclearedfortheteadance,andfour-scoreyoungAmericans,domiciledinschoolsnearGstaad,bouncedabouttothefrolicof"Don’tBringLulu,"orexplodedviolentlywiththefirstpercussionsoftheCharleston.Itwasacolonyoftheyoung,simple,andexpensive—theSturmtruppenoftherichwereatSt.Moritz.BabyWarrenfeltthatshehadmadeagestureofrenunciationinjoiningtheDivershere.

           Dickpickedoutthetwosisterseasilyacrossthedelicatelyhaunted,soft-swayingroom—theywereposter-like,formidableintheirsnowcostumes,Nicole’sofceruleanblue,Baby’sofbrickred.TheyoungEnglishmanwastalkingtothem;buttheywerepayingnoattention,lulledtothestaringpointbytheadolescentdance.

           Nicole’ssnow-warmfacelightedupfurtherasshesawDick."Whereishe?"

           "Hemissedthetrain—I’mmeetinghimlater."Dicksatdown,swingingaheavybootoverhisknee."Youtwolookverystrikingtogether.EveryonceinawhileIforgetwe’reinthesamepartyandgetabigshockatseeingyou."

           Babywasatall,fine-lookingwoman,deeplyengagedinbeingalmostthirty.SymptomaticallyshehadpulledtwomenwithherfromLondon,onescarcelydownfromCambridge,oneoldandhardwithVictorianlecheries.