Shelley stared at him for a long moment and said, "This is a charitable donation. You do remember that, don't you? And there is a handy old phrase that 'beggars can't be choosers.' Besides, I arranged it this way so you wouldn't lose rehearsal time."

"But it was a rude way to state it," Imry said.

"And who started the rudeness?" Shelley asked.

Bill Denk, who played the butler, grinned at Shelley, saying in his old-man voice, "You go, girl," and started clapping. It was taken up by the others.

Imry rose, red-faced, and went into the next room ahead of everyone else.

"Jane," Shelley said, "we have to nibble a bit of everything to note the taste and texture and such of the food. I know we've both eaten dinner, but I'd appreciate it if you would—"

She came to a dead halt, staring at Jane's needlepoint canvas. "You've already started?"

"Of course I have," Jane said. "I planned it on the computer this afternoon. I bought Todd a grid program when he was working on those prime numbers, don't you remember?"

"While I was making out my detailed checklist to fill out on the caterers?" Shelley asked in a wounded voice. "I thought we'd be working together. Oh well, I guess that really isn't practical."

Jane told Shelley, "Ms. Bunting would like to go to the needlepoint shop with us in the morning and catch up with what we did today. Don't you think — since Ms. Bunting is so famous and actually knew Sylvia Sidney — that the teacher would take one more person?" '

Shelley turned to Gloria Bunting. "You reallyknew Sylvia Sidney?" she exclaimed, her annoyance with Jane forgotten. "I love her movies."

"She was as wonderful in real life," Ms. Bunting said. "What is that thing you're keeping your yarn in, Ms. Jeffry?"

"It's supposed to be for jewelry. But the individual pockets are great for keeping the colors from being in a jumble. We could shop for one for you tomorrow."