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〃Hullo； old Fred！〃 with which Susy hailed Gillow's arrival might
be either the usual tribal welcomesince they were all 〃old；〃
and all nicknamed； in their private jargonor a greeting that
concealed inscrutable depths of complicity。
Susy was visibly glad to see Gillow； but she was glad of
everything just then； and so glad to show her gladness！ The
fact disarmed her husband and made him ashamed of his
uneasiness。 〃You ought to have thought this all out sooner； or
else you ought to chuck thinking of it at all；〃 was the sound
but ineffectual advice he gave himself on the day after Gillow's
arrival； and immediately set to work to rethink the whole
matter。
Fred Gillow showed no consciousness of disturbing any one's
peace of mind。 Day after day he sprawled for hours on the Lido
sands； his arms folded under his head； listening to Streffy's
nonsense and watching Susy between sleepy lids； but he betrayed
no desire to see her alone； or to draw her into talk apart from
the others。 More than ever he seemed content to be the
gratified spectator of a costly show got up for his private
entertainment。 It was not until he heard her； one morning；
grumble a little at the increasing heat and the menace of
mosquitoes； that he said； quite as if they had talked the matter
over long before； and finally settled it： 〃The moor will be
ready any time after the first of August。〃
Nick fancied that Susy coloured a little； and drew herself up
more defiantly than usual as she sent a pebble skimming across
the dying ripples at their feet。
〃You'll be a lot cooler in Scotland；〃 Fred added； with what； for
him； was an unusual effort at explicitness。
〃Oh； shall we？〃 she retorted gaily； and added with an air of
mystery and importance； pivoting about on her high heels：
〃Nick's got work to do here。 It will probably keep us all
summer。〃
〃Work？ Rot！ You'll die of the smells。〃 Gillow stared
perplexedly skyward from under his tilted hat…brim； and then
brought out； as from the depth of a rankling grievance： 〃I
thought it was all understood。〃
〃Why；〃 Nick asked his wife that night； as they re…entered
Ellie's cool drawing…room after a late dinner at the Lido； 〃did
Gillow think it was understood that we were going to his moor in
August？〃 He was conscious of the oddness of speaking of their
friend by his surname； and reddened at his blunder。
Susy had let her lace cloak slide to her feet； and stood before
him in the faintly…lit room； slim and shimmering…white through
black transparencies。
She raised her eyebrows carelessly。 〃I told you long ago he'd
asked us there for August。〃
〃You didn't tell me you'd accepted。〃
She smiled as if he had said something as simple as Fred。 〃I
accepted everythingfrom everybody！〃
What could he answer？ It was the very principle on which their
bargain had been struck。 And if he were to say： 〃Ah； but this
is different； because I'm jealous of Gillow；〃 what light would
such an answer shed on his past？ The time for being jealous…if
so antiquated an attitude were on any ground defensible…would
have been before his marriage； and before the acceptance of the
bounties which had helped to make it possible。 He wondered a
little now that in those days such scruples had not troubled
him。 His inconsistency irritated him； and increased his
irritation against Gillow。 〃I suppose he thinks he owns us！〃 he
grumbled inwardly。
He had thrown himself into an armchair； and Susy； advancing
across the shining arabesques of the floor； slid down at his
feet； pressed her slender length against him； and whispered with
lifted face and lips close to his： 〃We needn't ever go anywhere
you don't want to。〃 For once her submission was sweet； and
folding her close he whispered back through his kiss： 〃Not
there； then。〃
In her response to his embrace he felt the acquiescence of her
whole happy self in whatever future he decided on； if only it
gave them enough of such moments as this； and as they held each
other fast in silence his doubts and distrust began to seem like
a silly injustice。
〃Let us stay here as long as ever Ellie will let us；〃 he said；
as if the shadowy walls and shining floors were a magic boundary
drawn about his happiness。
She murmured her assent and stood up； stretching her sleepy arm
above her shoulders。 〃How dreadfully late it is 。。。。 Will you
unhook me？ 。。。 Oh； there's a telegram。〃
She picked it up from the table； and tearing it open stared a
moment at the message。 〃It's from Ellie。 She's coming to…
morrow。〃
She turned to the window and strayed out onto the balcony。 Nick
followed her with enlacing arm。 The canal below them lay in
moonless shadow； barred with a few lingering lights。 A last
snatch of gondola…music came from far off； carried upward on a
sultry gust。
〃Dear old Ellie。 All the same 。。。 I wish all this belonged to
you and me。〃 Susy sighed。
VIII。
IT was not Mrs。 Vanderlyn's fault if； after her arrival； her
palace seemed to belong any less to the Lansings。
She arrived in a mood of such general benevolence that it was
impossible for Susy； when they finally found themselves alone；
to make her view even her own recent conduct in any but the most
benevolent light。
〃I knew you'd be the veriest angel about it all； darling；
because I knew you'd understand me especially now；〃 she
declared； her slim hands in Susy's； her big eyes （so like
Clarissa's） resplendent with past pleasures and future plans。
The expression of her confidence was unexpectedly distasteful to
Susy Lansing； who had never lent so cold an ear to such warm
avowals。 She had always imagined that being happy one's self
made oneas Mrs。 Vanderlyn appeared to assume more tolerant
of the happiness of others； of however doubtful elements
composed； and she was almost ashamed of responding so languidly
to her friend's outpourings。 But she herself had no desire to
confide her bliss to Ellie； and why should not Ellie observe a
similar reticence？
〃It was all so perfectyou see； dearest； I was meant to be
happy；〃 that lady continued； as if the possession of so unusual
a characteristic singled her out for special privileges。
Susy； with a certain sharpness； responded that she had always
supposed we all were。
〃Oh； no； dearest： not governesses and mothers…in…law and
companions； and that sort of people。 They wouldn't know how if
they tried。 But you and I； darling〃
〃Oh； I don't consider myself in any way exceptional；〃 Susy
intervened。 She longed to add： 〃Not in your way； at any
rate〃 but a few minutes earlier Mrs。 Vanderlyn had told her
that the palace was at her disposal for the rest of the summer；
and that she herself was only going to perch thereif they'd
let her！long enough to gather up her things and start for St。
Moritz。 The memory of this announcement had the effect of
curbing Susy's irony； and of ma