CHAPTER II
But Lily was grandest of all at the rehearsals. She was now no longer a lady: she once more became the Spartan, bare-necked, her hair undone, her body streaming with perspiration, and to work, to work, to make up for lost time! In the mornings, alone on the deserted stage, she practised and practised....
“Come on!” said Jimmy. “And mind you do your work properly,” he added, with a laugh, “or else, you know ...”
And he patted the back of his hand.
“I don’t care!” said Lily.
“You may break your head, you know,” continued Jimmy, to try her.
“It’s none of your damned business if I do! Show me your tricks. To work!”
And Jimmy showed her a movement to execute on her bike, which she had brought with her: balancings, as in “Bridging the Abyss,” an excellent training for the aerobike. And Lily went about it clear-eyed, hard-cheeked, with all the little muscles contracted on her stubborn forehead, ready to butt at the obstacle. A few falls to begin with, but she jumped up again nimbly: