按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bores and bothers； in a comradeship of which both of them had
long ago guessed the immediate pleasure； but she at least had
never imagined the deeper harmony。
It was at one of their earliest meetingsat one of the
heterogeneous dinners that the Fred Gillows tried to think
〃literary〃that the young man who chanced to sit next to her；
and of whom it was vaguely rumoured that he had 〃written；〃 had
presented himself to her imagination as the sort of luxury to
which Susy Branch； heiress； might conceivably have treated
herself as a crowning folly。 Susy Branch； pauper； was fond of
picturing how this fancied double would employ her millions： it
was one of her chief grievances against her rich friends that
they disposed of theirs so unimaginatively。
〃I'd rather have a husband like that than a steam…yacht！〃 she
had thought at the end of her talk with the young man who had
written； and as to whom it had at once been clear to her that
nothing his pen had produced； or might hereafter set down； would
put him in a position to offer his wife anything more costly
than a row…boat。
〃His wife！ As if he could ever have one！ For he's not the kind
to marry for a yacht either。〃 In spite of her past； Susy had
preserved enough inner independence to detect the latent signs
of it in others； and also to ascribe it impulsively to those of
the opposite sex who happened to interest her。 She had a
natural contempt for people who gloried in what they need only
have endured。 She herself meant eventually to marry； because
one couldn't forever hang on to rich people； but she was going
to wait till she found some one who combined the maximum of
wealth with at least a minimum of companionableness。
She had at once perceived young Lansing's case to be exactly the
opposite： he was as poor as he could be； and as companionable
as it was possible to imagine。 She therefore decided to see as
much of him as her hurried and entangled life permitted； and
this； thanks to a series of adroit adjustments； turned out to be
a good deal。 They met frequently all the rest of that winter；
so frequently that Mrs。 Fred Gillow one day abruptly and sharply
gave Susy to understand that she was 〃making herself
ridiculous。〃
〃Ah〃 said Susy with a long breath； looking her friend and
patroness straight in the painted eyes。
〃Yes；〃 cried Ursula Gillow in a sob； 〃before you interfered Nick
liked me awfully 。。。 and； of course； I don't want to reproach
you 。。。 but when I think 。。。。〃
Susy made no answer。 How could she； when she thought？ The
dress she had on had been given her by Ursula； Ursula's motor
had carried her to the feast from which they were both
returning。 She counted on spending the following August with
the Gillows at Newport 。。。 and the only alternative was to go to
California with the Bockheimers； whom she had hitherto refused
even to dine with。
〃Of course； what you fancy is perfect nonsense； Ursula； and as
to my interfering〃 Susy hesitated； and then murmured： 〃But if
it will make you any happier I'll arrange to see him less
often 。。。。〃 She sounded the lowest depths of subservience in
returning Ursula's tearful kiss 。。。。
Susy Branch had a masculine respect for her word； and the next
day she put on her most becoming hat and sought out young Mr。
Lansing in his lodgings。 She was determined to keep her promise
to Ursula； but she meant to look her best when she did it。
She knew at what time the young man was likely to be found； for
he was doing a dreary job on a popular encyclopaedia （V to X）；
and had told her what hours were dedicated to the hateful task。
〃Oh； if only it were a novel！〃 she thought as she mounted his
dingy stairs； but immediately reflected that； if it were the
kind that she could bear to read； it probably wouldn't bring him
in much more than his encyclopaedia。 Miss Branch had her
standards in literature 。。。。
The apartment to which Mr。 Lansing admitted her was a good deal
cleaner； but hardly less dingy； than his staircase。 Susy；
knowing him to be addicted to Oriental archaeology； had pictured
him in a bare room adorned by a single Chinese bronze of
flawless shape； or by some precious fragment of Asiatic pottery。
But such redeeming features were conspicuously absent； and no
attempt had been made to disguise the decent indigence of the
bed…sitting…room。
Lansing welcomed his visitor with every sign of pleasure； and
with apparent indifference as to what she thought of his
furniture。 He seemed to be conscious only of his luck in seeing
her on a day when they had not expected to meet。 This made Susy
all the sorrier to execute her promise； and the gladder that she
had put on her prettiest hat； and for a moment or two she looked
at him in silence from under its conniving brim。
Warm as their mutual liking was； Lansing had never said a word
of love to her； but this was no deterrent to his visitor； whose
habit it was to speak her meaning clearly when there were no
reasons； worldly or pecuniary； for its concealment。 After a
moment； therefore； she told him why she had come； it was a
nuisance； of course； but he would understand。 Ursula Gillow was
jealous； and they would have to give up seeing each other。
The young man's burst of laughter was music to her； for； after
all； she had been rather afraid that being devoted to Ursula
might be as much in his day's work as doing the encyclopaedia。
〃But I give you my word it's a raving…mad mistake！ And I don't
believe she ever meant me； to begin with〃 he protested； but
Susy； her common…sense returning with her reassurance； promptly
cut short his denial。
〃You can trust Ursula to make herself clear on such occasions。
And it doesn't make any difference what you think。 All that
matters is what she believes。〃
〃Oh； come！ I've got a word to say about that too； haven't I？〃
Susy looked slowly and consideringly about the room。 There was
nothing in it； absolutely nothing； to show that he had ever
possessed a spare dollaror accepted a present。
〃Not as far as I'm concerned；〃 she finally pronounced。
〃How do you mean？ If I'm as free as air？〃
〃I'm not。〃
He grew thoughtful。 〃Oh； then； of course。 It only seems a
little odd；〃 he added drily； 〃that in that case； the protest
should have come from Mrs。 Gillow。〃
〃Instead of coming from my millionaire bridegroom； Oh； I haven't
any； in that respect I'm as free as you。〃
〃Well； then？ Haven't we only got to stay free？〃
Susy drew her brows together anxiously。 It was going to be
rather more difficult than she had supposed。
〃I said I was as free in that respect。 I'm not going to
marryand I don't suppose you are？〃
〃God； no！〃 he ejaculated fervently。
〃But that doesn't always imply complete freedom 。。。。〃
He stood just above her； leaning his elbow against the hideous
black marble arch that framed his fireless grate。 As she
glanced up she s