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humiliation from herself as to escape his anger that she had
held her tongue？
〃You knew I wouldn't have stayed here another day if I'd known；〃
he continued。
〃Yes： and then where in the world should we have gone？〃
〃You mean thatin one way or anotherwhat you call give…and…
take is the price of our remaining together？〃
〃Wellisn't it；〃 she faltered。
〃Then we'd better part； hadn't we？〃
He spoke in a low tone； thoughtfully and deliberately； as if
this had been the inevitable conclusion to which their
passionate argument had led。
Susy made no answer。 For a moment she ceased to be conscious of
the causes of what had happened； the thing itself seemed to have
smothered her under its ruins。
Nick wandered away from the dressing…table and stood gazing out
of the window at the darkening canal flecked with lights。 She
looked at his back； and wondered what would happen if she were
to go up to him and fling her arms about him。 But even if her
touch could have broken the spell； she was not sure she would
have chosen that way of breaking it。 Beneath her speechless
anguish there burned the half…conscious sense of having been
unfairly treated。 When they had entered into their queer
compact； Nick had known as well as she on what compromises and
concessions the life they were to live together must be based。
That he should have forgotten it seemed so unbelievable that she
wondered； with a new leap of fear； if he were using the wretched
Ellie's indiscretion as a means of escape from a tie already
wearied of。 Suddenly she raised her head with a laugh。
〃After allyou were right when you wanted me to be your
mistress。〃
He turned on her with an astonished stare。 〃Youmy mistress？〃
Through all her pain she thrilled with pride at the discovery
that such a possibility had long since become unthinkable to
him。 But she insisted。 〃That day at the Fulmers'have you
forgotten？ When you said it would be sheer madness for us to
marry。〃
Lansing stood leaning in the embrasure of the window； his eyes
fixed on the mosaic volutes of the floor。
〃I was right enough when I said it would be sheer madness for us
to marry；〃 he rejoined at length。
She sprang up trembling。 〃Well； that's easily settled。 Our
compact〃
〃Oh； that compact〃 he interrupted her with an impatient laugh。
〃Aren't you asking me to carry it out now？〃
〃Because I said we'd better part？〃 He paused。 〃But the
compactI'd almost forgotten itwas to the effect； wasn't it；
that we were to give each other a helping hand if either of us
had a better chance？ The thing was absurd； of course； a mere
joke； from my point of view； at least。 I shall never want any
better chance 。。。 any other chance 。。。。〃
〃Oh； Nick； oh； Nick 。。。 but then 。。。。〃 She was close to him；
his face looming down through her tears； but he put her back。
〃It would have been easy enough； wouldn't it；〃 he rejoined； 〃if
we'd been as detachable as all that？ As it is； it's going to
hurt horribly。 But talking it over won't help。 You were right
just now when you asked how else we were going to live。 We're
born parasites； both； I suppose； or we'd have found out some way
long ago。 But I find there are things I might put up with for
myself； at a pinchand should； probably； in time that I can't
let you put up with for me 。。。 ever 。。。。 Those cigars at Como：
do you suppose I didn't know it was for me？ And this too？
Well； it won't do 。。。 it won't do 。。。。〃
He stopped； as if his courage failed him； and she moaned out：
〃But your writingif your book's a success 。。。。〃
〃My poor Susythat's all part of the humbug。 We both know that
my sort of writing will never pay。 And what's the alternative
except more of the same kind of baseness？ And getting more and
more blunted to it？ At least； till now； I've minded certain
things； I don't want to go on till I find myself taking them for
granted。〃
She reached out a timid hand。 〃But you needn't ever； dear 。。。
if you'd only leave it to me 。。。。〃
He drew back sharply。 〃That seems simple to you； I suppose？
Well； men are different。〃 He walked toward the dressing…table
and glanced at the little enamelled clock which had been one of
her wedding…presents。
〃Time to dress； isn't it？ Shall you mind if I leave you to dine
with Streffy； and whoever else is coming？ I'd rather like a
long tramp； and no more talking just at present except with
myself。〃
He passed her by and walked rapidly out of the room。 Susy stood
motionless； unable to lift a detaining hand or to find a final
word of appeal。 On her disordered dressing…table Mrs。
Vanderlyn's gifts glittered in the rosy lamp…light。
Yes： men were different； as he said。
XI。
BUT there were necessary accommodations； there always had been；
Nick in old times； had been the first to own it 。。。。 How they
had laughed at the Perpendicular People； the people who went by
on the other side （since you couldn't be a good Samaritan
without stooping over and poking into heaps of you didn't know
what）！ And now Nick had suddenly become perpendicular 。。。。
Susy； that evening； at the head of the dinner table； sawin the
breaks between her scudding thoughtsthe nauseatingly familiar
faces of the people she called her friends： Strefford； Fred
Gillow； a giggling fool of a young Breckenridge； of their New
York group； who had arrived that day； and Prince Nerone
Altineri； Ursula's Prince； who； in Ursula's absence at a
tiresome cure； had； quite simply and naturally； preferred to
join her husband at Venice。 Susy looked from one to the other
of them； as if with newly…opened eyes； and wondered what life
would be like with no faces but such as theirs to furnish
it 。。。。
Ah； Nick had become perpendicular！ 。。。。 After all； most people
went through life making a given set of gestures； like dance…
steps learned in advance。 If your dancing manual told you at a
given time to be perpendicular； you had to be； automatically
and that was Nick！
〃But what on earth； Susy；〃 Gillow's puzzled voice suddenly came
to her as from immeasurable distances； 〃Are you going to do in
this beastly stifling hole for the rest of the summer？〃
〃Ask Nick； my dear fellow；〃 Strefford answered for her； and：
〃By the way； where is Nickif one may ask？〃 young Breckenridge
interposed； glancing up to take belated note of his host's
absence。
〃Dining out；〃 said Susy glibly。 〃People turned up： blighting
bores that I wouldn't have dared to inflict on you。〃 How easily
the old familiar fibbing came to her ！
〃The kind to whom you say； 'Now mind you look me up'； and then
spend the rest of your life dodging…like our good Hickses；〃
Strefford amplified。
The Hicksesbut； of course； Nick was with the Hickses！ It went
through Susy like a knife； and the dinner she had so lightly
fibbed became a hateful truth。 She said to herself feverishly：
〃I