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VII。
OF some new ferment at work in him Nick Lansing himself was
equally aware。 He was a better judge of the book he was trying
to write than either Susy or Strefford； he knew its weaknesses；
its treacheries； its tendency to slip through his fingers just
as he thought his grasp tightest； but he knew also that at the
very moment when it seemed to have failed him it would suddenly
be back； beating its loud wings in his face。
He had no delusions as to its commercial value； and had winced
more than he triumphed when Susy produced her allusion to
Marius。 His book was to be called The Pageant of Alexander。
His imagination had been enchanted by the idea of picturing the
young conqueror's advance through the fabulous landscapes of
Asia： he liked writing descriptions； and vaguely felt that
under the guise of fiction he could develop his theory of
Oriental influences in Western art at the expense of less
learning than if he had tried to put his ideas into an essay。
He knew enough of his subject to know that he did not know
enough to write about it； but he consoled himself by remembering
that Wilhelm Meister has survived many weighty volumes on
aesthetics； and between his moments of self…disgust he took
himself at Susy's valuation； and found an unmixed joy in his
task。
Neverno； never！had he been so boundlessly； so confidently
happy。 His hack…work had given him the habit of application；
and now habit wore the glow of inspiration。 His previous
literary ventures had been timid and tentative： if this one was
growing and strengthening on his hands； it must be because the
conditions were so different。 He was at ease； he was secure； he
was satisfied； and he had also； for the first time since his
early youth； before his mother's death； the sense of having some
one to look after； some one who was his own particular care； and
to whom he was answerable for himself and his actions； as he had
never felt himself answerable to the hurried and indifferent
people among whom he had chosen to live。
Susy had the same standards as these people： she spoke their
language； though she understood others； she required their
pleasures if she did not revere their gods。 But from the moment
that she had become his property he had built up in himself a
conception of her answering to some deep…seated need of
veneration。 She was his； he had chosen her； she had taken her
place in the long line of Lansing women who had been loved；
honoured； and probably deceived； by bygone Lansing men。 He
didn't pretend to understand the logic of it； but the fact that
she was his wife gave purpose and continuity to his scattered
impulses； and a mysterious glow of consecration to his task。
Once or twice； in the first days of his marriage； he had asked
himself with a slight shiver what would happen if Susy should
begin to bore him。 The thing had happened to him with other
women as to whom his first emotions had not differed in
intensity from those she inspired。 The part he had played in
his previous love…affairs might indeed have been summed up in
the memorable line： 〃I am the hunter and the prey；〃 for he had
invariably ceased to be the first only to regard himself as the
second。 This experience had never ceased to cause him the
liveliest pain； since his sympathy for his pursuer was only less
keen than his commiseration for himself； but as he was always a
little sorrier for himself； he had always ended by distancing
the pursuer。
All these pre…natal experiences now seemed utterly inapplicable
to the new man he had become。 He could not imagine being bored
by Susyor trying to escape from her if he were。 He could not
think of her as an enemy； or even as an accomplice； since
accomplices are potential enemies： she was some one with whom；
by some unheard…of miracle； joys above the joys of friendship
were to be tasted； but who； even through these fleeting
ecstasies； remained simply and securely his friend。
These new feelings did not affect his general attitude toward
life： they merely confirmed his faith in its ultimate
〃jolliness。〃 Never had he more thoroughly enjoyed the things he
had always enjoyed。 A good dinner had never been as good to
him； a beautiful sunset as beautiful； he still rejoiced in the
fact that he appreciated both with an equal acuity。 He was as
proud as ever of Susy's cleverness and freedom from prejudice：
she couldn't be too 〃modern〃 for him now that she was his。 He
shared to the full her passionate enjoyment of the present； and
all her feverish eagerness to make it last。 He knew when she
was thinking of ways of extending their golden opportunity； and
he secretly thought with her； wondering what new means they
could devise。 He was thankful that Ellie Vanderlyn was still
absent； and began to hope they might have the palace to
themselves for the remainder of the summer。 If they did； he
would have time to finish his book； and Susy to lay up a little
interest on their wedding cheques； and thus their enchanted year
might conceivably be prolonged to two。
Late as the season was； their presence and Strefford's in Venice
had already drawn thither several wandering members of their
set。 It was characteristic of these indifferent but
agglutinative people that they could never remain long parted
from each other without a dim sense of uneasiness。 Lansing was
familiar with the feeling。 He had known slight twinges of it
himself； and had often ministered to its qualms in others。 It
was hardly stronger than the faint gnawing which recalls the
tea…hour to one who has lunched well and is sure of dining as
abundantly； but it gave a purpose to the purposeless； and helped
many hesitating spirits over the annual difficulty of deciding
between Deauville and St。 Moritz； Biarritz and Capri。
Nick was not surprised to learn that it was becoming the
fashion； that summer； to pop down to Venice and take a look at
the Lansings。 Streffy had set the example； and Streffy's
example was always followed。 And then Susy's marriage was still
a subject of sympathetic speculation。 People knew the story of
the wedding cheques； and were interested in seeing how long they
could be made to last。 It was going to be the thing； that year；
to help prolong the honey…moon by pressing houses on the
adventurous couple。 Before June was over a band of friends were
basking with the Lansings on the Lido。
Nick found himself unexpectedly disturbed by their arrival。 To
avoid comment and banter he put his book aside and forbade Susy
to speak of it； explaining to her that he needed an interval of
rest。 His wife instantly and exaggeratedly adopted this view；
guarding him from the temptation to work as jealously as she had
discouraged him from idling； and he was careful not to let her
find out that the change in his habits coincided with his having
reached a difficult point in his book。 But though he was not
sorry to stop