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Moritz。 The memory of this announcement had the effect of
curbing Susy's irony； and of making her shift the conversation
to the safer if scarcely less absorbing topic of the number of
day and evening dresses required for a season at St。 Moritz。
As she listened to Mrs。 Vanderlynno less eloquent on this
theme than on the otherSusy began to measure the gulf between
her past and present。 〃This is the life I used to lead； these
are the things I used to live for；〃 she thought； as she stood
before the outspread glories of Mrs。 Vanderlyn's wardrobe。 Not
that she did not still care： she could not look at Ellie's
laces and silks and furs without picturing herself in them； and
wondering by what new miracle of management she could give
herself the air of being dressed by the same consummate artists。
But these had become minor interests： the past few months had
given her a new perspective； and the thing that most puzzled and
disconcerted her about Ellie was the fact that love and finery
and bridge and dining…out were seemingly all on the same plane
to her。
The inspection of the dresses lasted a long time； and was marked
by many fluctuations of mood on the part of Mrs。 Vanderlyn； who
passed from comparative hopefulness to despair at the total
inadequacy of her wardrobe。 It wouldn't do to go to St。 Moritz
looking like a frump； and yet there was no time to get anything
sent from Paris； and； whatever she did； she wasn't going to show
herself in any dowdy re…arrangements done at home。 But suddenly
light broke on her； and she clasped her hands for joy。 〃Why；
Nelson'll bring themI'd forgotten all about Nelson！ There'll
be just time if I wire to him at once。〃
〃Is Nelson going to join you at St。 Moritz？〃 Susy asked；
surprised。
〃Heavens； no！ He's coming here to pick up Clarissa and take her
to some stuffy cure in Austria with his mother。 It's too lucky：
there's just time to telegraph him to bring my things。 I didn't
mean to wait for him； but it won't delay me more than day or
two。〃
Susy's heart sank。 She was not much afraid of Ellie alone； but
Ellie and Nelson together formed an incalculable menace。 No one
could tell what spark of truth might dash from their collision。
Susy felt that she could deal with the two dangers separately
and successively； but not together and simultaneously。
〃But； Ellie； why should you wait for Nelson？ I'm certain to
find someone here who's going to St。 Moritz and will take your
things if he brings them。 It's a pity to risk losing your
rooms。〃
This argument appealed for a moment to Mrs。 Vanderlyn。 〃That's
true； they say all the hotels are jammed。 You dear； you're
always so practical！〃 She clasped Susy to her scented bosom。
〃And you know； darling； I'm sure you'll be glad to get rid of
meyou and Nick！ Oh； don't be hypocritical and say 'Nonsense！'
You see； I understand 。。。 I used to think of you so often； you
two 。。。 during those blessed weeks when we two were alone。。。。〃
The sudden tears； brimming over Ellie's lovely eyes； and
threatening to make the blue circles below them run into the
adjoining carmine； filled Susy with compunction。
〃Poor thingoh； poor thing！〃 she thought； and hearing herself
called by Nick； who was waiting to take her out for their usual
sunset on the lagoon； she felt a wave of pity for the deluded
creature who would never taste that highest of imaginable joys。
〃But all the same；〃 Susy reflected； as she hurried down to her
husband； 〃I'm glad I persuaded her not to wait for Nelson。〃
Some days had elapsed since Susy and Nick had had a sunset to
themselves； and in the interval Susy had once again learned the
superior quality of the sympathy that held them together。 She
now viewed all the rest of life as no more than a show： a jolly
show which it would have been a thousand pities to miss； but
which； if the need arose； they could get up and leave at any
momentprovided that they left it together。
In the dusk； while their prow slid over inverted palaces； and
through the scent of hidden gardens； she leaned against him and
murmured； her mind returning to the recent scene with Ellie：
〃Nick； should you hate me dreadfully if I had no clothes？〃
Her husband was kindling a cigarette； and the match lit up the
grin with which he answered： 〃But； my dear； have I ever shown
the slightest symptom？〃
〃Oh； rubbish！ When a woman says： 'No clothes；' she means：
'Not the right clothes。'〃
He took a meditative puff。 〃Ah； you've been going over Ellie's
finery with her。〃
〃Yes： all those trunks and trunks full。 And she finds she's
got nothing for St。 Moritz！〃
〃Of course；〃 he murmured； drowsy with content； and manifesting
but a languid interest in the subject of Mrs。 Vanderlyn's
wardrobe。
〃Only fancyshe very nearly decided to stop over for Nelson's
arrival next week； so that he might bring her two or three more
trunkfuls from Paris。 But mercifully I've managed to persuade
her that it would be foolish to wait。〃
Susy felt a hardly perceptible shifting of her husband's
lounging body； and was aware； through all her watchful
tentacles； of a widening of his half…closed lids。
〃You 'managed'？〃 She fancied he paused on the word
ironically。 〃But why？〃
〃Whywhat？〃
〃Why on earth should you try to prevent Ellie's waiting for
Nelson； if for once in her life she wants to？〃
Susy； conscious of reddening suddenly； drew back as though the
leap of her tell…tale heart might have penetrated the blue
flannel shoulder against which she leaned。
〃Really； dearest！〃 she murmured； but with a sudden doggedness
he renewed his 〃Why？〃
〃Because she's in such a fever to get to St。 Moritzand in such
a funk lest the hotel shouldn't keep her rooms；〃 Susy somewhat
breathlessly produced。
〃AhI see。〃 Nick paused again。 〃You're a devoted friend；
aren't you！〃
〃What an odd question！ There's hardly anyone I've reason to be
more devoted to than Ellie；〃 his wife answered； and she felt his
contrite clasp on her hand。
〃Darling！ No； nor I。 Or more grateful to for leaving us
alone in this heaven。〃
Dimness had fallen on the waters； and her lifted lips met his
bending ones。
Trailing late into dinner that evening； Ellie announced that；
after all； she had decided it was safest to wait for Nelson。
〃I should simply worry myself ill if I weren't sure of getting
my things；〃 she said； in the tone of tender solicitude with
which she always discussed her own difficulties。 〃After all；
people who deny themselves everything do get warped and bitter；
don't they？〃 she argued plaintively； her lovely eyes wandering
from one to the other of her assembled friends。
Strefford remarked gravely that it was the complaint which had
fatally undermined his own health； and in the laugh that
followed the party drifted into the great vaulted dining…room。
〃Oh； I don't mind your laughing at me； Streffy