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"Yes, yes, you're right," Celine said quickly "Of course, you're right, Madame Malisorf I was just so disappointed the other day and I know you were, too"

"On the contrary, I was not," she said Celine's head lifted Even I had to pause in my exercises and look her way

"You weren't?" Celine sounded skeptical "No I was happy to see the child get right up and attempt to continue That is stamina,

deterainst her heart

"Yes," Celine said, looking at rateful that we have you"

"Then let's not waste the ti Celine with a flick of her wrist, Madaan

It was a good lesson Even I felt that I had accomplished more than usual The only mention Madame Malisorf made of the recital hen she made reference to my work on pointe For the rest of the lesson she had Dih a series of exercises and complimented me on my work

Yet none of this seelumly in her chair and when the lesson ended and Dione, Celine wheeled up to

"She just doesn't want to give up her own free tune," Celine said peevishly "In ballet more is better If you're not obsessed with it, you won't be successful It has to be de on your body and your soul I'll practice with you on the weekend," she added "We'll begin this Saturday"

"But this Saturday isa party I've invited some of my classmates," I moaned

"Oh, Sanford is planning your party, is he?" The look in her eyes chilled me "Well, the party isn't an all-day affair, is it? We'll practice in theand you can have your party in the afternoon, if you must have it at all," she declared, then turned her chair and wheeled herself away

Ever since the recital, Celine had been behaving differently toward me She was more impatient, her words harsher, her eyes more critical She spentout theAnd any time I mentioned Sanford she narrowed her eyes and looked atto see insideOnce I even found her backed into a corner, the shadows draped over her like a blanket She was staring at the painting of herself in her dance costume

When I ive her tiht Celine was upset at the tih, since I was afraid he would avoid races

"She has her ups and downs," he explained "Everything has been happening so fast, she just needs time to adjust?'

He and I went for one of our walks on the grounds, down to the lake It was special ti time with a daddy who loved and cared for me, that made all the hours of torture in the studio hile