herself from answering, streaming lines of ghosts in her mind. At that one hospital in Wandsworth, floors and floors of them, twenty boys in every room who ought to have been killed, who’d come out wrecked and maimed. The lucky ones. ‘How I hate the idea of sacrifice!’ she said, and then, her face burning, said to Mabel, ‘I mean—that it is asked of them, of us. I’m sorry, I have heard from Aurora about your fiancé being wounded.’
Mabel had retreated into herself, and Clover tried to repair it. She put a hand on Mabel’s muslin sleeve, warm with sun. ‘I know what that is like, the waiting. Aside from the war, London is—oh, beautiful. A riot of flowers, and the air! Like here, you know. The water is sweet too.’ She turned to Aurora. ‘I loved it there, and I love Victor’s mother, but I cannot work there. They will never let me be English, I’ll always be a colonial. Variety is vulgar, too, nothing like true vaudeville. In variety you must be a coquette, good at engaging rowdy crowds, and enjoy being ogled. It is much better here.’
In town, Mabel suggested they show Clover the Opera House, one of Qu’Appelle’s sights. Miss Peavey was closing the clinic door as they entered; she knew where the Opera House key was kept, and came along to keep them company.
The little theatre was charming and clean, with a border of advertisements round the proscenium stage—Clover laughed, her spirits rising, and pulled Aurora’s hand to go closer. ‘It’s like the David Theatre, in Camrose, do you remember?’
Their steps made no sound as they ran down the slight rake of the hall and up the side steps to the little stage. ‘Spring Song,’ Aurora said, and they wafted on, imaginary wreaths held high, and circled round and round, arms at each other’s waists, la-la-ing the tweedling melody.
‘We need Bella,’ Clover said, when they paused to make the bridge for Bella to pass under—it was this number they’d been doing, and just here that they’d stopped, when the Muse was flooded and destroyed. ‘Or waterfalls of rain …’
Aurora laughed, her face glowing. ‘We’ve had quite a good time, haven’t we?’
Here is what I have been missing all this time, Clover thought. She embraced Aurora, whispering, ‘You are my sister!’ as she kissed her velvet cheek.
Mabel and Miss Peavey broke into applause, and a man’s voice added, ‘Encore!’
Aurora’s arm tightened a little around Clover. She murmured in her ear, ‘Lewis Ridgeway, the schoolmaster. And Miss Frye, from the school. Come, I will introduce you.’
Miss Frye said excitedly, ‘Oh, Mrs. Mayhew! Is this your sister? How wonderful! We must have you both—do say you will!’
Mr. Ridgeway put a calming hand on Miss Frye’s elbow. ‘This is a lucky meeting. Miss Frye has an idea of getting up a concert for Dominion Day.’
‘You know Mrs. Gower thought of it last year, but then with her son’s tragic end—I thought, let’s us do it for her! Funds to send to our boys overseas, you know, war bonds, that sort of thing. But it would be meaningless without you, Mrs. Mayhew, so if we can persuade or entice you, or beg of you …’
Clover thought Miss Frye was shy, beneath the chatter. Aurora took pity on her, and said that since by lucky chance her sister (bows and introductions all round) was visiting, perhaps they could revive one of their old numbers? Miss Frye bubbled over in ecstasy and began to enumerate the other acts they had in mind: the dear girls’ chorus from the high school, a highly talented child flautist, and an exhibition of embroidery. Perhaps not a bill calculated to sell a superfluity of bonds.
Lewis Ridgeway gave Clover a penetrating look and took her hand. ‘Your sister has told me a little of your trouble—I’ve looked forward to meeting you and Mr. Saborsky.’
Clover nodded, examining his face as he did hers. Sombre, not much humour. Difficult to read. She hoped he had not been making Aurora unhappy.
Overflowing
On a sudden inspiration, Aurora cabled to Bella. Nothing but a brief line on a postcard had come from her since Easter, never more than Very well, happy, don’t be worried, more soon. The last note had been scribbled on the back of a list of tour dates, so she had some idea where Bella must be, and sent the cable to the Pantages theatres in both Edmonton and Calgary.
CONCERT TROOPS JULY I WITH CLOVER AND VICTOR, CAN YOU JOIN?
Many