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followed the party drifted into the great vaulted dining…room。
〃Oh; I don't mind your laughing at me; Streffy darling;〃 his
hostess retorted; pressing his arm against her own; and Susy;
receiving the shock of their rapidly exchanged glance; said to
herself; with a sharp twinge of apprehension: 〃Of course
Streffy knows everything; he showed no surprise at finding Ellie
away when he arrived。 And if he knows; what's to prevent
Nelson's finding out?〃 For Strefford; in a mood of mischief;
was no more to be trusted than a malicious child。
Susy instantly resolved to risk speaking to him; if need be even
betraying to him the secret of the letters。 Only by revealing
the depth of her own danger could she hope to secure his
silence。
On the balcony; late in the evening; while the others were
listening indoors to the low modulations of a young composer who
had embroidered his fancies on Browning's 〃Toccata;〃 Susy found
her chance。 Strefford; unsummoned; had followed her out; and
stood silently smoking at her side。
〃You see; Streffoh; why should you and I make mysteries to
each other?〃 she suddenly began。
〃Why; indeed: but do we?〃
Susy glanced back at the group around the piano。 〃About Ellie;
I meanand Nelson。〃
〃Lord! Ellie and Nelson? You call that a mystery? I should as
soon apply the term to one of the million candle…power
advertisements that adorn your native thoroughfares。〃
〃Well; yes。 But〃 She stopped again。 Had she not tacitly
promised Ellie not to speak?
〃My Susan; what's wrong?〃 Strefford asked。
〃I don't know。。。。〃
〃Well; I do; then: you're afraid that; if Ellie and Nelson meet
here; she'll blurt out somethinginjudicious。〃
〃Oh; she won't!〃 Susy cried with conviction。
〃Well; thenwho will! I trust that superhuman child not to。
And you and I and Nick〃
〃Oh;〃 she gasped; interrupting him; 〃that's just it。 Nick
doesn't know 。。。 doesn't even suspect。 And if he did。。。。〃
Strefford flung away his cigar and turned to scrutinize her。 〃I
don't seehanged if I do。 What business is it of any of us;
after all?〃
That; of course; was the old view that cloaked connivance in an
air of decency。 But to Susy it no longer carried conviction;
and she hesitated。
〃If Nick should find out that I know。。。。〃
〃Good Lorddoesn't he know that you know? After all; I suppose
it's not the first time〃
She remained silent。
〃The first time you've received confidencesfrom married
friends。 Does Nick suppose you've lived even to your tender age
without 。。。 Hang it; what's come over you; child?〃
What had; indeed; that she could make clear to him? And yet
more than ever she felt the need of having him securely on her
side。 Once his word was pledged; he was safe: otherwise there
was no limit to his capacity for wilful harmfulness。
〃Look here; Streff; you and I know that Ellie hasn't been away
for a cure; and that if poor Clarissa was sworn to secrecy it
was not because it 'worries father' to think that mother needs
to take care of her health。〃 She paused; hating herself for the
ironic note she had tried to sound。
〃Well?〃 he questioned; from the depths of the chair into which
he had sunk。
〃Well; Nick doesn't 。。。 doesn't dream of it。 If he knew that we
owed our summer here to 。。。 to my knowing。。。。〃
Strefford sat silent: she felt his astonished stare through the
darkness。 〃Jove!〃 he said at last; with a low whistle Susy bent
over the balustrade; her heart thumping against the stone rail。
〃What was left of soul; I wonder?〃 the young composer's voice
shrilled through the open windows。
Strefford sank into another silence; from which he roused
himself only as Susy turned back toward the lighted threshold。
〃Well; my dear; we'll see it through between us; you and I…and
Clarissa;〃 he said with his rasping laugh; rising to follow her。
He caught her hand and gave it a short pressure as they re…
entered the drawing…room; where Ellie was saying plaintively to
Fred Gillow: 〃I can never hear that thing sung without wanting
to cry like a baby。〃
IX。
NELSON VANDERLYN; still in his travelling clothes; paused on the
threshold of his own dining…room and surveyed the scene with
pardonable satisfaction。
He was a short round man; with a grizzled head; small facetious
eyes and a large and credulous smile。
At the luncheon table sat his wife; between Charlie Strefford
and Nick Lansing。 Next to Strefford; perched on her high chair;
Clarissa throned in infant beauty; while Susy Lansing cut up a
peach for her。 Through wide orange awnings the sun slanted in
upon the white…clad group。
〃Wellwellwell! So I've caught you at it!〃 cried the happy
father; whose inveterate habit it was to address his wife and
friends as if he had surprised them at an inopportune moment。
Stealing up from behind; he lifted his daughter into the air;
while a chorus of 〃Hello; old Nelson;〃 hailed his appearance。
It was two or three years since Nick Lansing had seen Mr。
Vanderlyn; who was now the London representative of the big New
York bank of Vanderlyn & Co。; and had exchanged his sumptuous
house in Fifth Avenue for another; more sumptuous still; in
Mayfair; and the young man looked curiously and attentively at
his host。
Mr。 Vanderlyn had grown older and stouter; but his face still
kept its look of somewhat worn optimism。 He embraced his wife;
greeted Susy affectionately; and distributed cordial hand…grasps
to the two men。
〃Hullo;〃 he exclaimed; suddenly noticing a pearl and coral
trinket hanging from Clarissa's neck。 〃Who's been giving my
daughter jewellery; I'd like to know!〃
〃Oh; Streffy didjust think; father! Because I said I'd rather
have it than a book; you know;〃 Clarissa lucidly explained; her
arms tight about her father's neck; her beaming eyes on
Strefford。
Nelson Vanderlyn's own eyes took on the look of shrewdness which
came into them whenever there was a question of material values。
〃What; Streffy? Caught you at it; eh? Upon my soul…spoiling
the brat like that! You'd no business to; my dear chap…a
lovely baroque pearl〃 he protested; with the half…apologetic
tone of the rich man embarrassed by too costly a gift from an
impecunious friend。
〃Oh; hadn't I? Why? Because it's too good for Clarissa; or too
expensive for me? Of course you daren't imply the first; and as
for meI've had a windfall; and am blowing it in on the
ladies。〃
Strefford; Lansing had noticed; always used American slang when
he was slightly at a loss; and wished to divert attention from
the main point。 But why was he embarrassed; whose attention did
he wish to divert; It was plain that Vanderlyn's protest had
been merely formal: like most of the wealthy; he had only the
dimmest notion of what money represented to the poor。 But it
was unusual for Strefford to give any one a present;