And if it was just you perhaps then I'd say yes. But John's a friend as well, and I couldn't lie to him I don't want to have to lie to him.' 'I see.' There was a reproach in Julia's tone that made Cassie almost change her mind, because she was quite sure that their friendship would never be the same again, but she staved silent. `Well, I'll just have to think of some other excuse, won't I? Not that it matters; I find that you can always think of a thousand excuses if you want something badly enough.' Cassie looked at her defiant face and said sadly, `A thousand lies, you mean.' For a moment the older girl glared at her angrily, then she seemed to crumple, her shoulders sagging. `I can't help it, Cassie. I need him so badly, you see.' Then she hurriedly turned away and walked quickly down the street. Cassie watched her go and, not for the first time in her marriage, thanked her stars that Simon was an ardent, virile lover. CHAPTER FIVE IT was several weeks before Cassie began to fully realise that not only the work and home pattern of her life, but also the social one, was changing.
