Chapter 21

           Rosemaryhadanotherdinnerdate,abirthdaypartyforamemberofthecompany.DickranintoCollisClayinthelobby,buthewantedtodinealone,andpretendedanengagementattheExcelsior.HedrankacocktailwithCollisandhisvaguedissatisfactioncrystallizedasimpatience—henolongerhadanexcuseforplayingtruanttotheclinic.Thiswaslessaninfatuationthanaromanticmemory.Nicolewashisgirl—toooftenhewassickatheartabouther,yetshewashisgirl.TimewithRosemarywasself-indulgence—timewithColliswasnothingplusnothing.

           InthedoorwayoftheExcelsiorheranintoBabyWarren.Herlargebeautifuleyes,lookingpreciselylikemarbles,staredathimwithsurpriseandcuriosity."IthoughtyouwereinAmerica,Dick!IsNicolewithyou?"

           "IcamebackbywayofNaples."

           Theblackbandonhisarmremindedhertosay:"I’msosorrytohearofyourtrouble."

           Inevitablytheydinedtogether.

           "Tellmeabouteverything,"shedemanded.

           Dickgaveheraversionofthefacts,andBabyfrowned.Shefounditnecessarytoblamesomeoneforthecatastropheinhersister’slife.

           "DoyouthinkDoctorDohmlertooktherightcoursewithherfromthefirst?"

           "There’snotmuchvarietyintreatmentanymore—ofcourseyoutrytofindtherightpersonalitytohandleaparticularcase."