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was unusual for Strefford to give any one a present； and
especially an expensive one： perhaps that was what had fixed
Vanderlyn's attention。
〃A windfall？〃 he gaily repeated。
〃Oh； a tiny one： I was offered a thumping rent for my little
place at Como； and dashed over here to squander my millions with
the rest of you；〃 said Strefford imperturbably。
Vanderlyn's look immediately became interested and sympathetic。
〃Whatthe scene of the honey…moon？〃 He included Nick and Susy
in his friendly smile。
〃Just so： the reward of virtue。 I say； give me a cigar； will
you； old man； I left some awfully good ones at Como； worse
luckand I don't mind telling you that Ellie's no judge of
tobacco； and that Nick's too far gone in bliss to care what he
smokes；〃 Strefford grumbled； stretching a hand toward his host's
cigar…case。
〃I do like jewellery best；〃 Clarissa murmured； hugging her
father。
Nelson Vanderlyn's first word to his wife had been that he had
brought her all her toggery； and she had welcomed him with
appropriate enthusiasm。 In fact； to the lookers…on her joy at
seeing him seemed rather too patently in proportion to her
satisfaction at getting her clothes。 But no such suspicion
appeared to mar Mr。 Vanderlyn's happiness in being； for once；
and for nearly twenty…four hours； under the same roof with his
wife and child。 He did not conceal his regret at having
promised his mother to join her the next day； and added； with a
wistful glance at Ellie： 〃If only I'd known you meant to wait
for me！〃
But being a man of duty； in domestic as well as business
affairs； he did not even consider the possibility of
disappointing the exacting old lady to whom he owed his being。
〃Mother cares for so few people；〃 he used to say； not without a
touch of filial pride in the parental exclusiveness； 〃that I
have to be with her rather more than if she were more sociable〃；
and with smiling resignation he gave orders that Clarissa should
be ready to start the next evening。
〃And meanwhile；〃 he concluded； 〃we'll have all the good time
that's going。〃
The ladies of the party seemed united in the desire to further
this resolve； and it was settled that as soon as Mr。 Vanderlyn
had despatched a hasty luncheon； his wife； Clarissa and Susy
should carry him off for a tea…picnic at Torcello。 They did not
even suggest that Strefford or Nick should be of the party； or
that any of the other young men of the group should be summoned；
as Susy said； Nelson wanted to go off alone with his harem。 And
Lansing and Strefford were left to watch the departure of the
happy Pasha ensconced between attentive beauties。
〃Wellthat's what you call being married！〃 Strefford
commented； waving his battered Panama at Clarissa。
〃Oh； no； I don't！〃 Lansing laughed。
〃He does。 But do you know〃 Strefford paused and swung about
on his companion〃do you know； when the Rude Awakening comes； I
don't care to be there。 I believe there'll be some crockery
broken。〃
〃Shouldn't wonder；〃 Lansing answered indifferently。 He wandered
away to his own room； leaving Strefford to philosophize to his
pipe。
Lansing had always known about poor old Nelson： who hadn't；
except poor old Nelson？ The case had once seemed amusing
because so typical； now； it rather irritated Nick that Vanderlyn
should be so complete an ass。 But he would be off the next day；
and so would Ellie； and then； for many enchanted weeks； the
palace would once more be the property of Nick and Susy。 Of all
the people who came and went in it； they were the only ones who
appreciated it； or knew how it was meant to be lived in； and
that made it theirs in the only valid sense。 In this light it
became easy to regard the Vanderlyns as mere transient
intruders。
Having relegated them to this convenient distance； Lansing shut
himself up with his book。 He had returned to it with fresh
energy after his few weeks of holiday…making； and was determined
to finish it quickly。 He did not expect that it would bring in
much money； but if it were moderately successful it might give
him an opening in the reviews and magazines； and in that case he
meant to abandon archaeology for novels； since it was only as a
purveyor of fiction that he could count on earning a living for
himself and Susy。
Late in the afternoon he laid down his pen and wandered out of
doors。 He loved the increasing heat of the Venetian summer； the
bruised peach…tints of worn house…fronts； the enamelling of
sunlight on dark green canals； the smell of half…decayed fruits
and flowers thickening the languid air。 What visions he could
build； if he dared； of being tucked away with Susy in the attic
of some tumble…down palace； above a jade…green waterway； with a
terrace overhanging a scrap of neglected gardenand cheques
from the publishers dropping in at convenient intervals！ Why
should they not settle in Venice if he pulled it off！
He found himself before the church of the Scalzi； and pushing
open the leathern door wandered up the nave under the whirl of
rose…and…lemon angels in Tiepolo's great vault。 It was not a
church in which one was likely to run across sight…seers； but he
presently remarked a young lady standing alone near the choir；
and assiduously applying her field…glass to the celestial
vortex； from which she occasionally glanced down at an open
manual。
As Lansing's step sounded on the pavement； the young lady；
turning； revealed herself as Miss Hicks。
〃Ahyou like this too？ It's several centuries out of your
line； though； isn't it！〃 Nick asked as they shook hands。
She gazed at him gravely。 〃Why shouldn't one like things that
are out of one's line？〃 she answered； and he agreed； with a
laugh； that it was often an incentive。
She continued to fix her grave eyes on him； and after one or two
remarks about the Tiepolos he perceived that she was feeling her
way toward a subject of more personal interest。
〃I'm glad to see you alone；〃 she said at length； with an
abruptness that might have seemed awkward had it not been so
completely unconscious。 She turned toward a cluster of straw
chairs； and signed to Nick to seat himself beside her。
〃I seldom do；〃 she added； with the serious smile that made her
heavy face almost handsome； and she went on； giving him no time
to protest： 〃I wanted to speak to youto explain about
father's invitation to go with us to Persia and Turkestan。〃
〃To explain？〃
〃Yes。 You found the letter when you arrived here just after
your marriage； didn't you？ You must have thought it odd； our
asking you just then； but we hadn't heard that you were
married。〃
〃Oh； I guessed as much： it happened very quietly； and I was
remiss about announcing it； even to old friends。〃
Lansing frowned。 His thoughts had wandered away to the evening
when he had found Mrs。 Hicks's letter in the mail awaiting him
at Venice。 The day was as