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that an aversion to television was another of her father's eccentricities. He refused to have a set in the house, giving as an excuse that while Sonya was a teenager the small screen would distract her from her studies, but in truth he disliked watching the activities of others from which his disabled state precluded him. He compromised with a radio, but Sonya never turned on the sports news nor read it in the paper. All sport was linked in her mind with skating, which she liked to forget when she was not at the rink. As soon as she was allowed out alone she visited the local library, and romantic novels, especially historical ones, became her main recreation. She found the adventures of these fictional heroes and heroines much more satisfactory than her few contacts with real people.
    Tie's absolutely great,' Thomasina enthused, 'and to think he's actually going to be here in person thrills me to bits.'
    Derek looked glum.
    'To be able to skate isn't everything,' he observed, for he was only a very average performer himself. 'If you ask me that guy's been overrated; it's girls like you, Tom, who're to blame. Every female who can wobble on the ice and a lot who never go near a rink make an idol of him.'
    Thomasina laughed. 'Who's seeing green?' she mocked. 'It isn't his fault that he's become a sort of folk hero.'
    'No, but he laps up adulation in a disgustingly smug manner. You won't miss much, Sonya, we'll all be expected to freeze behind the barrier and clap our hands off in applause.'
    'Even Sonya Vincent might be able to learn something from watching him,' Thomasina said cattily. 'And he's a gorgeous guy.'
    'Sonya isn't interested in men, however gorgeous,' Derek declared quickly, and Thomasina laughed again derisively.
    'She's getting to be a big girl, her ice will have to melt eventually.'
    'But not for Sven Petersen,' Derek insisted loudly. 'She's got better taste.'
    'Jan's going to try to persuade Daddy to let me stay to watch him skating,' Sonya interposed, disliking Thomasina's baiting. 'So I can judge for myself, if he succeeds.'
    Her expressive face clouded; she was recalling that Eliot Vincent had been equally famous once upon a time.
    'Oh, really?' Thomasina did not look pleased. Sonya being who she was might attract more attention than she merited. 'Then you'll see how ill-founded Derek's prejudices are.'
    'I'm not prejudiced, you've only got to look at the fellow ...'
    'That's what I'm going to do,' Thomasina interrupted, 'and with any luck I'll make him look at me.'
    'As a matter of fact,' Sonya spoke diffidently, 'I did glimpse him this morning.'
    'You did?' Thomasina threw her a venomous glance. 'How come?'
    'He was talking to Jan at the edge of the ice. Of course it was only in the distance. If I'd known then who it was I'd have left those horrible brackets and come nearer to have a closer look. All I saw was a slender figure in black with very fair hair.'
    'What a missed opportunity,' Derek jeered.
    'Yes, wasn't it?' she returned serenely. 'He's Swedish, isn't he?'
    'I believe so—Nordic anyway. I adore fair hair on a man,' Thomasina declared fervently, glancing scornfully at Derek's dark brown thatch.
    The waitress brought her meal and she began to eat while Derek groaned.
    'You see,' he said to Sonya. 'We lesser mortals haven't a look in when blond champions are around. I hope you do miss him, Sonya, or even you might succumb.'
    'What do you mean by that?' she demanded, wide-eyed.
    'Well, so far you've given a fair imitation of an iceberg towards any amorous advances,' he complained. 'But you might melt towards him.'
    Sonya glanced towards Thomasina, but she was not attending. Her gaze was fixed upon a newcomer at the bar with a calculating expression. She was not finding her companions' company amusing.
    'I come here to skate, not to flirt,' she told him severely.
    'Dedicated!' he groaned. 'But some girls can do both.'
    'I'm not one of them,' Sonya returned. So far Derek's manner towards her had never