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spectacles and thick ankles！ Poor Mrs。 Hicks used to say to
Nick： 'When Mr。 Hicks and I had Coral educated we presumed
culture was in greater demand in Europe than it appears to be。'〃
〃Well； you'll see： that girl's education won't interfere with
her； once she's started。 So then： if Nick came in and told you
he was going off〃
〃I should be so thankful if it was with a fright like Coral！
But you know；〃 she added with a smile； 〃we've agreed that it's
not to happen for a year。〃
VI。
SUSY found Strefford； after his first burst of nonsense；
unusually kind and responsive。 The interest he showed in her
future and Nick's seemed to proceed not so much from his
habitual spirit of scientific curiosity as from simple
friendliness。 He was privileged to see Nick's first chapter； of
which he formed so favourable an impression that he spoke
sternly to Susy on the importance of respecting her husband's
working hours； and he even carried his general benevolence to
the length of showing a fatherly interest in Clarissa Vanderlyn。
He was always charming to children； but fitfully and warily；
with an eye on his independence； and on the possibility of being
suddenly bored by them； Susy had never seen him abandon these
precautions so completely as he did with Clarissa。
〃Poor little devil！ Who looks after her when you and Nick are
off together？ Do you mean to tell me Ellie sacked the governess
and went away without having anyone to take her place？〃
〃I think she expected me to do it；〃 said Susy with a touch of
asperity。 There were moments when her duty to Clarissa weighed
on her somewhat heavily； whenever she went off alone with Nick
she was pursued by the vision of a little figure waving wistful
farewells from the balcony。
〃Ah； that's like Ellie： you might have known she'd get an
equivalent when she lent you all this。 But I don't believe she
thought you'd be so conscientious about it。〃
Susy considered。 〃I don't suppose she did； and perhaps I
shouldn't have been； a year ago。 But you see〃she hesitated
〃Nick's so awfully good： it's made me look； at a lot of things
differently 。。。。〃
〃Oh； hang Nick's goodness！ It's happiness that's done it； my
dear。 You're just one of the people with whom it happens to
agree。〃
Susy； leaning back； scrutinized between her lashes his crooked
ironic face。
〃What is it that's agreeing with you； Streffy？ I've never seen
you so human。 You must be getting an outrageous price for the
villa。〃
Strefford laughed and clapped his hand on his breast…pocket。 〃I
should be an ass not to： I've got a wire here saying they must
have it for another month at any price。〃
〃What luck！ I'm so glad。 Who are they； by the way？〃
He drew himself up out of the long chair in which he was
disjointedly lounging； and looked down at her with a smile。
〃Another couple of love…sick idiots like you and Nick 。。。。 I
say； before I spend it all let's go out and buy something
ripping for Clarissa。〃
The days passed so quickly and radiantly that； but for her
concern for Clarissa； Susy would hardly have been conscious of
her hostess's protracted absence。 Mrs。 Vanderlyn had said：
〃Four weeks at the latest；〃 and the four weeks were over； and
she had neither arrived nor written to explain her non…
appearance。 She had； in fact； given no sign of life since her
departure； save in the shape of a post…card which had reached
Clarissa the day after the Lansings' arrival； and in which Mrs。
Vanderlyn instructed her child to be awfully good； and not to
forget to feed the mongoose。 Susy noticed that this missive had
been posted in Milan。
She communicated her apprehensions to Strefford。 〃I don't trust
that green…eyed nurse。 She's forever with the younger
gondolier； and Clarissa's so awfully sharp。 I don't see why
Ellie hasn't come： she was due last Monday。〃
Her companion laughed； and something in the sound of his laugh
suggested that he probably knew as much of Ellie's movements as
she did； if not more。 The sense of disgust which the subject
always roused in her made her look away quickly from his
tolerant smile。 She would have given the world； at that moment；
to have been free to tell Nick what she had learned on the night
of their arrival； and then to have gone away with him； no matter
where。 But there was Clarissa！
To fortify herself against the temptation； she resolutely fixed
her thoughts on her husband。 Of Nick's beatitude there could be
no doubt。 He adored her； he revelled in Venice； he rejoiced in
his work； and concerning the quality of that work her judgment
was as confident as her heart。 She still doubted if he would
ever earn a living by what he wrote； but she no longer doubted
that he would write something remarkable。 The mere fact that he
was engaged on a philosophic romance； and not a mere novel；
seemed the proof of an intrinsic superiority。 And if she had
mistrusted her impartiality Strefford's approval would have
reassured her。 Among their friends Strefford passed as an
authority on such matters： in summing him up his eulogists
always added： 〃And you know he writes。〃 As a matter of fact；
the paying public had remained cold to his few published pages；
but he lived among the kind of people who confuse taste with
talent； and are impressed by the most artless attempts at
literary expression； and though he affected to disdain their
judgment； and his own efforts； Susy knew he was not sorry to
have it said of him： 〃Oh； if only Streffy had chosen！〃
Strefford's approval of the philosophic romance convinced her
that it had been worth while staying in Venice for Nick's sake；
and if only Ellie would come back； and carry off Clarissa to St。
Moritz or Deauville； the disagreeable episode on which their
happiness was based would vanish like a cloud； and leave them to
complete enjoyment。
Ellie did not come； but the Mortimer Hickses did； and Nick
Lansing was assailed by the scruples his wife had foreseen。
Strefford； coming back one evening from the Lido； reported
having recognized the huge outline of the Ibis among the
pleasure craft of the outer harbour； and the very next evening；
as the guests of Palazzo Vanderlyn were sipping their ices at
Florian's； the Hickses loomed up across the Piazza。
Susy pleaded in vain with her husband in defence of his privacy。
〃Remember you're here to write； dearest； it's your duty not to
let any one interfere with that。 Why shouldn't we tell them
we're just leaving！〃
〃Because it's no use： we're sure to be always meeting them。
And besides； I'll be hanged if I'm going to shirk the Hickses。
I spent five whole months on the Ibis； and if they bored me
occasionally； India didn't。〃
〃We'll make them take us to Aquileia anyhow；〃 said Strefford
philosophically； and the next moment the Hickses were bearing
down on the defenceless trio。
They presented a formidable front； n