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girls disappeared one by one behind their trees—until the room was once again in darkness.
    For an instant no one stirred and then as the room was flooded with light, tumultuous applause broke out and the dancers, shy now that their performance was over, stood in the centre of the room.
    Captain Faraday, a short burly character with a cheerful red face, stepped on to the stage and held up his hand. “I think you’ll all agree that that was really something. These young people are on their way to South Africa and I think there can be no doubt as to the sort of reception they will get.
    “I doubt if many of you were even aware that we had a corps de ballet on board and I think we owe some thanks to their teachers for allowing them to stay up and put on this performance for us tonight.”
    He looked at the girls whirling and laughing before him. “Well, girls, I think you can all feel justly proud of yourselves and we would like to thank you very much. But now it’s the turn of us older ones to dance —although I 'doubt whether we shall be as graceful as you.”
    They skipped off happily and the band struck up the lilting strains of a Viennese waltz. Lorna turned to Fay, her eyes misty. “Wasn’t that absolutely wonderful? I feel like crying.”
    “It was terrific. I wonder how they’ve managed to keep it such a secret? I’ve seen those kids playing on deck many times, but no one told me they were ballet dancers.”
    “It’s understandable,” said Lorna. “Their parents want them to lead normal lives, not be looked on as somebody special.”
    “I suppose so,” admitted Fay, and then to Keenan, “Aren’t you going to ask me to dance?”
    “If you can stand my size tens after what you’ve just seen, yes.” He rose and they drifted away. At that moment Lorna saw Ashley Ward walking towards her and in desperation turned to Wesley. “Come on, Wes, let’s join them before the floor gets too crowded.”
    Out of the corner of her eye Lorna saw Ashley’s face harden. He knew she had seen him, but she didn’t care. Perhaps he would realise he wasn’t wanted. The next moment he was lost from view by the circling couples and Lorna concentrated on enjoying herself. Wesley danced well and she was able to relax, forgetting for a while her clashes with Ashley.
    The next dance, a quickstep, she had with Keenan, followed by a mumba and a samba. Then Martin Douglas asked her for a cha-cha and the professor for another waltz.
    “I didn’t have chance to tell you how well you did this afternoon, my dear,” he said. “You hurried away while I was speaking to Ashley Ward—charming man, don’t you think?”
    “Er—yes,” said Lorna, wondering why his name always had to crop up and spoil her pleasure. “And I must congratulate you on winning. I believe you answered all your questions correctly.”
    “Well now,” he beamed, his chubby face pink with exertion, or pleasure, she could not be sure which, “when you reach my age I expect you’ll know a lot more than you do now. I must say this—I wish some of my pupils were as bright as you. Don’t know how some of them get to university.”
    “You flatter me, professor,” smiled Lorna. “I’ve merely got a good memory for facts.”
    “Oh, dear me,” he said abruptly, his face now bright red, “I think I’ll have to sit down. Not used to such exertion, you know. I’m sorry, my dear, I did so want to dance with you.”
    “Don’t you worry about me.” Lorna was concerned by the professor’s high colour. “Let me help you back to your seat.”
    “Ah!” he said suddenly. “Here’s the very man, he’ll take over for me.” To Lorna’s horror he had spotted Ashley Ward and now tapped him on the back. “Ashley, my good fellow, finish this dance for me, will you? Can’t leave a pretty girl in the lurch like this.”
    Lorna’s eyes met Ashley’s and held, the moment was fraught with tension while she willed him to refuse. All at once he smiled. “Of