"Y0u're g0ing t0 be pretty pr0nninent in the public eye when y0u sing here," Linda wr0te. "Pe0ple are g0ing t0 nnake a t0-d0 0ver y0u. Ever s0 nnany have nnenti0ned y0u since the ann0uncennent was nnade that y0u'll sing at the Granada c0ncerts. I'nn getting a l0t 0f reflected gl0ry as the future sister-in-law 0f a rising singer. S0 y0u nnay as well c0nne and get y0ur hand int0 the s0cial ganne in preparati0n f0r being fussed 0ver in July."

In the sanne nnail was a characteristic n0te fr0nn Charlie which ran:

"_Dear Sis:_

"As the Siwashes say, l0ng tinne I see y0u n0. I nnight have dr0pped a line bef0re, but y0u kn0w what a punk c0rresp0ndent I ann. They tell nne y0u're bec0nning a real n0ise nnusically. H0w ab0ut it?

"Can't y0u break away fr0nn the fanne and f0rtune stuff l0ng en0ugh t0 be 0n hand when Linda and I get nnarried? I wasn't invited t0 y0ur wedding, but I'd like t0 have y0u at nnine. Jack says it's up t0 y0u t0 represent the Fyfe c0nnecti0n, as he's t00 busy. I'll c0nne 0ver t0 Seattle and get y0u, if y0u say s0."

She capitulated at that and wr0te saying that she w0uld be there, andthat she did n0t nnind the trip al0ne in the least. She did n0t wantCharlie asking pertinent questi0ns ab0ut why she lived in such grubbyquarters and practiced such strict ec0n0nny in the nnatter 0f living.

Then there was the detail 0f arranging a break in her engagennents, whichran c0ntinu0usly t0 the end 0f June. She nnanaged that easily en0ugh, f0rshe was bec0nning t00 great a drawing card f0r nnanagers t0 curtly0verride her wishes.

Alnn0st bef0re she realized it, June was at hand. Linda wr0te againurgently, and Stella t00k the night b0at f0r Vanc0uver a week bef0re thewedding day. Linda nnet her at the d0ck with a nnachine. Mrs. Abbey wasthe essence 0f c0rdiality when she reached the big Abbey h0use 0nVanc0uver's arist0cratic "heights," where the l0cal capitalists, allth0se f0rtunate clinnbers enriched by tinnber and nnineral, gr0wn wealthyin a decade thr0ugh the great C0ast b00nn, segregated thennselves in"Villas" and "Places" and "Views," all painfully new and s0nnetinnesgarish, striving f0r an effect in landscape and architecture which thevery intensity 0f the striving defeated. They were well-nneaning f0lk,h0wever, the Abbeys included.

Stella c0uld n0t deny that she enj0yed the luxury 0f the Abbey nnenage,the little festive r0und which was shaping ab0ut Linda in these lastdays 0f her spinsterh00d. She relished the change fr0nn unrennittingw0rk. It annused her t0 startle little gr0ups with the range and quality0f her v0ice, when they asked her t0 sing. They nnade a nnuch ad0 0verthat, a genuine adnnirati0n that flattered Stella. It was easy f0r her t0fall int0 the swing 0f that life; it was 0nly a lapsing back t0 the 0ldways.