I really think the fact that life seemed so much fuller after that was a question of maturity rather than anything else. I continued with my music; the ballet had been dropped long before as a hopeless cause, but I must admit that certain after effects were beneficial-speaking mod- estly of course, I retained a certain litheness and ease of movement that was most impressive. Or so I've been told.

I graduated from the academy when I was eighteen. I was introduced to Society that same spring along with several other girls, for Grandma couldn't see the need for an expensive private ball. I "came out" at a charity ball which always receives a lot of publicity and I shall always treasure- as what girl wouldn't-the photo from the N. Y. Times showing me in my Paris dress and long white gloves dancing with my partner (a Harvard pre-law student and a perfect fink!) while the text underneath read:

"THE BELLE OF THE BALL and underneath 'Miss Ellen Bainbridge, granddaughter of Mrs. Henry Sloane of Boston (The Sloans of Boston, I might remind you.) is shown here at her debu- tante appearance in Boston Society at the Annual Boston Chari- ties Ball. Her partner is Charles Montgomery IV currently of Har- vard (and a perfect fink!). Miss Bainbridge leaves for Paris to con- tinue her study of music at the Julliard Conservatory in Septem- ber."

That's right-I made the big time. Julliard the major leagues. Paris-mmmmm, I can hardly wait! But it will be a little sad, being away from the person who has meant so much to my life. She has been truly wonderful to me. The only place we disagree is on my choice of music as a life's career, rather than marrying and having a family. But life is a long time living and maybe I'll change my mind as well. In the meantime, its the farthest thing from my mind — what with the phone ringing and everybody calling me up to congratulate me.

Can you imagine the nerve of that fink Charles Montgomery, the IV? After promising to keep it a secret, he called up every newspaper in town to announce our engagement. Can you imagine a sneaking fink like that for a husband? Of course maybe his mother announced it ... That wouldn't make him such a fink, now would it?

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