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Myrna shook her head Didn’t say what she suspected That there was really only one reason for Lillian to return

To ruin Clara’s big day

And she had Only not, almost certainly, in the way Lillian had planned

Which, of course, begged the question: Who had planned this?

"Can I say so to you?" Myrna asked

Clara made a face "I hate it when people ask that ItWhat is it?"

"Hope takes its place a," said Clara, perplexed and relieved "It’s just nonsense Is this a new game? Can I play? Wallpaper chair is often cows Or," Clara looked at Myrna with suspicion, "have you been sain? I know they say hemp isn’t really dope, but I still wonder"

"Clara Morrow’s art ain"

"Ah, a conversation of non sequiturs," said Clara "It’s like talking to Ruth, only not assords"

Myrna s?"

"Those were quotes?" asked Clara

Myrna nodded and looked over at the damp and smelly newspapers Clara’s eyes followed her, then widened Myrna rose and went upstairs, finding her own copies of the papers Clean and dry Clara reached out but her hands were tre too hard and Myrna had to find the sections

The portrait of Ruth, as the Virgin Mary, glared froe of the New York Tile word, "Arisen" And below it the headline HOPE TAKES ITS PLACE AMONG THE MODERN MASTERS

Clara dropped the section and grabbed for the London Tie was a photo of a Maoist accountant at Clara’s vernissage And below it the quote, "Clara Morrow Makes Rejoicing Cool Again"

"They’re raving, Clara," said Myrna with a ses dropped from Clara’s hand and she looked at her friend The one who’d whispered into the silence

Clara got up Arisen, she thought Arisen

And she hugged Myrna

Peter Morrow sat in his studio Hiding froone back into their ho for soone off, presumably to read them by herself So he had no idea what the critics had said But as soon as he’d walked in the door the phone had started to ring, and had barely stopped since All wanting to congratulate Clara