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English country…house in a northern county； where a life as
monotonous and self…contained as his own was chequered and
dispersed had gone on for generation after generation； and it
was the sense of that house； and of all it typified even to his
vagrancy and irreverence； which； coming out now and then in his
talk； or in his attitude toward something or somebody； gave him
a firmer outline and a steadier footing than the other
marionettes in the dance。 Superficially so like them all； and
so eager to outdo them in detachment and adaptability；
ridiculing the prejudices he had shaken off； and the people to
whom he belonged； he still kept； under his easy pliancy； the
skeleton of old faiths and old fashions。 〃He talks every
language as well as the rest of us；〃 Susy had once said of him；
〃but at least he talks one language better than the others〃； and
Strefford； told of the remark； had laughed； called her an idiot；
and been pleased。
As he shambled up the stairs with her； arm in arm； she was
thinking of this quality with a new appreciation of its value。
Even she and Lansing； in spite of their unmixed Americanism；
their substantial background of old…fashioned cousinships in New
York and Philadelphia； were as mentally detached； as universally
at home； as touts at an International Exhibition。 If they were
usually recognized as Americans it was only because they spoke
French so well； and because Nick was too fair to be 〃foreign；〃
and too sharp…featured to be English。 But Charlie Strefford was
English with all the strength of an inveterate habit； and
something in Susy was slowly waking to a sense of the beauty of
habit。
Lounging on the balcony； whither he had followed her without
pausing to remove the stains of travel； Strefford showed himself
immensely interested in the last chapter of her history； greatly
pleased at its having been enacted under his roof； and hugely
and flippantly amused at the firmness with which she refused to
let him see Nick till the latter's daily task was over。
〃Writing？ Rot！ What's he writing？ He's breaking you in； my
dear； that's what he's doing： establishing an alibi。 What'll
you bet he's just sitting there smoking and reading Le Rire？
Let's go and see。〃
But Susy was firm。 〃He's read me his first chapter： it's
wonderful。 It's a philosophic romancerather like Marius； you
know。〃
〃Oh； yesI do！〃 said Strefford； with a laugh that she thought
idiotic。
She flushed up like a child。 〃You're stupid； Streffy。 You
forget that Nick and I don't need alibis。 We've got rid of all
that hyprocrisy by agreeing that each will give the other a hand
up when either of us wants a change。 We've not married to spy
and lie； and nag each other； we've formed a partnership for our
mutual advantage。〃
〃I see； that's capital。 But how can you be sure that； when Nick
wants a change； you'll consider it for his advantage to have
one？〃
It was the point that had always secretly tormented Susy； she
often wondered if it equally tormented Nick。
〃I hope I shall have enough common sense〃 she began。
〃Oh； of course： common sense is what you're both bound to base
your argument on； whichever way you argue。〃
This flash of insight disconcerted her； and she said； a little
irritably： 〃What should you do then； if you married？Hush；
Streffy！ I forbid you to shout like thatall the gondolas are
stopping to look！〃
〃How can I help it？〃 He rocked backward and forward in his
chair。 〃'If you marry；' she says： 'Streffy； what have you
decided to do if you suddenly become a raving maniac？'〃
〃I said no such thing。 If your uncle and your cousin died；
you'd marry to…morrow； you know you would。〃
〃Oh； now you're talking business。〃 He folded his long arms and
leaned over the balcony； looking down at the dusky ripples
streaked with fire。 〃In that case I should say： 'Susan； my
dearSusannow that by the merciful intervention of Providence
you have become Countess of Altringham in the peerage of Great
Britain； and Baroness Dunsterville and d'Amblay in the peerages
of Ireland and Scotland； I'll thank you to remember that you are
a member of one of the most ancient houses in the United
Kingdomand not to get found out。'〃
Susy laughed。 〃We know what those warnings mean！ I pity my
namesake。〃
He swung about and gave her a quick look out of his small ugly
twinkling eyes。 〃Is there any other woman in the world named
Susan？〃
〃I hope so； if the name's an essential。 Even if Nick chucks me；
don't count on me to carry out that programme。 I've seen it in
practice too often。〃
〃Oh； well： as far as I know； everybody's in perfect health at
Altringham。〃 He fumbled in his pocket and drew out a fountain
pen； a handkerchief over which it had leaked； and a packet of
dishevelled cigarettes。 Lighting one； and restoring the other
objects to his pocket； he continued calmly： 〃Tell me how did
you manage to smooth things over with the Gillows？ Ursula was
running amuck when I was in Newport last Summer； it was just
when people were beginning to say that you were going to marry
Nick。 I was afraid she'd put a spoke in your wheel； and I hear
she put a big cheque in your hand instead。〃
Susy was silent。 From the first moment of Strefford's
appearance she had known that in the course of time he would
put that question。 He was as inquisitive as a monkey； and when
he had made up his mind to find out anything it was useless to
try to divert his attention。 After a moment's hesitation she
said： 〃I flirted with Fred。 It was a bore but he was very
decent。〃
〃He would bepoor Fred。 And you got Ursula thoroughly
frightened！〃
〃Wellenough。 And then luckily that young Nerone Altineri
turned up from Rome： he went over to New York to look for a job
as an engineer； and Ursula made Fred put him in their iron
works。〃 She paused again； and then added abruptly： 〃Streffy！
If you knew how I hate that kind of thing。 I'd rather have Nick
come in now and tell me frankly； as I know he would； that he's
going off with〃
〃With Coral Hicks？〃 Strefford suggested。
She laughed。 〃Poor Coral Hicks！ What on earth made you think
of the Hickses？〃
〃Because I caught a glimpse of them the other day at Capri。
They're cruising about： they said they were coming in here。〃
〃What a nuisance！ I do hope they won't find us out。 They were
awfully kind to Nick when he went to India with them； and
they're so simple…minded that they would expect him to be glad
to see them。〃
Strefford aimed his cigarette…end at a tourist on a puggaree who
was gazing up from his guidebook at the palace。 〃Ah；〃 he
murmured with satisfaction； seeing the shot take effect； then he
added： 〃Coral Hicks is growing up rather pretty。〃
〃Oh； Streffyou're dreaming！ That lump of a girl with
spectacles and thick ankles！ Poor Mrs。 Hicks used to say to
Nick： 'When Mr。 Hicks and I had Co