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stroke； and again Susy shuddered at the frailty of her bliss。
But her old training stood her in good stead。 There had been
more than one moment in her past when everything…somebody
else's everything…had depended on her keeping a cool head and a
clear glance。 It would have been a wonder if now； when she felt
her own everything at stake； she had not been able to put up as
good a defence。
〃What is it？〃 she repeated impatiently； as Lansing continued to
remain silent。
〃That's what I'm here to ask；〃 he returned； keeping his eyes as
steady as she kept hers。 〃There's no reason on earth； as you
say； why Ellie shouldn't give us presentsas expensive presents
as she likes； and the pearl is a beauty。 All I ask is： for
what specific services were they given？ For； allowing for all
the absence of scruple that marks the intercourse of truly
civilized people； you'll probably agree that there are limits；
at least up to now there have been limits 。。。。〃
〃I really don't know what you mean。 I suppose Ellie wanted to
show that she was grateful to us for looking after Clarissa。〃
〃But she gave us all this in exchange for that； didn't she？〃 he
suggested； with a sweep of the hand around the beautiful shadowy
room。 〃A whole summer of it if we choose。〃
Susy smiled。 〃Apparently she didn't think that enough。〃
〃What a doting mother！ It shows the store she sets upon her
child。〃
〃Well； don't you set store upon Clarissa？〃
〃Clarissa is exquisite； but her mother didn't mention her in
offering me this recompense。〃
Susy lifted her head again。 〃Whom did she mention？〃
〃Vanderlyn；〃 said Lansing。
〃Vanderlyn？ Nelson？〃
〃Yesand some letters 。。。 something about letters 。。。。 What is
it； my dear； that you and I have been hired to hide from
Vanderlyn？ Because I should like to know；〃 Nick broke out
savagely； 〃if we've been adequately paid。〃
Susy was silent： she needed time to reckon up her forces； and
study her next move； and her brain was in such a whirl of fear
that she could at last only retort： 〃What is it that Ellie said
to you？〃
Lansing laughed again。 〃That's just what you'd like to find
outisn't it？in order to know the line to take in making your
explanation。〃
The sneer had an effect that he could not have foreseen； and
that Susy herself had not expected。
〃Oh； don'tdon't let us speak to each other like that！〃 she
cried； and sinking down by the dressing…table she hid her face
in her hands。
It seemed to her； now； that nothing mattered except that their
love for each other； their faith in each other； should be saved
from some unhealable hurt。 She was willing to tell Nick
everythingshe wanted to tell him everythingif only she could
be sure of reaching a responsive chord in him。 But the scene of
the cigars came back to her； and benumbed her。 If only she
could make him see that nothing was of any account as long as
they continued to love each other！
His touch fell compassionately on her shoulder。 〃Poor child
don't；〃 he said。
Their eyes met； but his expression checked the smile breaking
through her tears。 〃Don't you see；〃 he continued； 〃that we've
got to have this thing out？〃
She continued to stare at him through a prism of tears。 〃I
can'twhile you stand up like that；〃 she stammered； childishly。
She had cowered down again into a corner of the lounge； but
Lansing did not seat himself at her side。 He took a chair
facing her； like a caller on the farther side of a stately tea…
tray。 〃Will that do？〃 he asked with a stiff smile； as if to
humour her。
〃Nothing will doas long as you're not you！〃
〃Not me？〃
She shook her head wearily。 〃What's the use？ You accept things
theoreticallyand then when they happen 。。。。〃
〃What things？ What has happened！〃
A sudden impatience mastered her。 What did he suppose； after
all？ 〃But you know all about Ellie。 We used to talk about
her often enough in old times；〃 she said。
〃Ellie and young Davenant？〃
〃Young Davenant； or the others 。。。。〃
〃Or the others。 But what business was it of ours？〃
〃Ah； that's just what I think！〃 she cried； springing up with an
explosion of relief。 Lansing stood up also； but there was no
answering light in his face。
〃We're outside of all that； we've nothing to do with it； have
we？〃 he pursued。
〃Nothing whatever。〃
〃Then what on earth is the meaning of Ellie's gratitude？
Gratitude for what we've done about some lettersand about
Vanderlyn？〃
〃Oh； not you；〃 Susy cried； involuntarily。
〃Not I？ Then you？〃 He came close and took her by the wrist。
〃Answer me。 Have you been mixed up in some dirty business of
Ellie's？〃
There was a pause。 She found it impossible to speak； with that
burning grasp on the wrist where the bangle had been。 At length
he let her go and moved away。 〃Answer；〃 he repeated。
〃I've told you it was my business and not yours。〃
He received this in silence； then he questioned： 〃You've been
sending letters for her； I suppose？ To whom？〃
〃Oh； why do you torment me？ Nelson was not supposed to know
that she'd been away。 She left me the letters to post to him
once a week。 I found them here the night we arrived 。。。。 It
was the pricefor this。 Oh； Nick； say it's been worth it…say
at least that it's been worth it！〃 she implored him。
He stood motionless； unresponding。 One hand drummed on the
corner of her dressing…table； making the jewelled bangle dance。
〃How many letters？〃
〃I don't know 。。。 four 。。。 five 。。。 What does it matter？〃
〃And once a week； for six weeks？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And you took it all as a matter of course？〃
〃No： I hated it。 But what could I do？〃
〃What could you do？〃
〃When our being together depended on it？ Oh； Nick； how could
you think I'd give you up？〃
〃Give me up？〃 he echoed。
〃Welldoesn't our being together depend onon what we can get
out of people？ And hasn't there always got to be some give…and…
take？ Did you ever in your life get anything for nothing？〃 she
cried with sudden exasperation。 〃You've lived among these
people as long as I have； I suppose it's not the first time〃
〃By God； but it is；〃 he exclaimed； flushing。 〃And that's the
differencethe fundamental difference。〃
〃The difference！〃
〃Between you and me。 I've never in my life done people's dirty
work for themleast of all for favours in return。 I suppose
you guessed it； or you wouldn't have hidden this beastly
business from me。〃
The blood rose to Susy's temples also。 Yes； she had guessed it；
instinctively； from the day she had first visited him in his
bare lodgings； she had been aware of his stricter standard。 But
how could she tell him that under his influence her standard had
become stricter too； and that it was as much to hide her
humiliation from herself as to escape his anger that she had
held her tongue？
〃Yo