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reasons for seeking solitude were so remote from those she had
once prefigured； they were none the less cogent。 To be alone
alone！ After those first exposed days when； in the persistent
presence of Fred Gillow and his satellites； and in the mocking
radiance of late summer on the lagoons； she had fumed and turned
about in her agony like a trapped animal in a cramping cage； to
be alone had seemed the only respite； the one craving： to be
alone somewhere in a setting as unlike as possible to the
sensual splendours of Venice； under skies as unlike its azure
roof。 If she could have chosen she would have crawled away into
a dingy inn in a rainy northern town； where she had never been
and no one knew her。 Failing that unobtainable luxury； here she
was on the threshold of an empty house； in a deserted place；
under lowering skies。 She had shaken off Fred Gillow； sulkily
departing for his moor （where she had half…promised to join him
in September）； the Prince； young Breckenridge； and the few
remaining survivors of the Venetian group； had dispersed in the
direction of the Engadine or Biarritz； and now she could at
least collect her wits； take stock of herself； and prepare the
countenance with which she was to face the next stage in her
career。 Thank God it was raining at Versailles！
The door opened； she heard voices in the drawing…room； and a
slender languishing figure appeared on the threshold。
〃Darling！〃 Violet Melrose cried in an embrace； drawing her into
the dusky perfumed room。
〃But I thought you were in China！〃 Susy stammered。
〃In China 。。。 in China；〃 Mrs。 Melrose stared with dreamy eyes；
and Susy remembered her drifting disorganised life； a life more
planless； more inexplicable than that of any of the other
ephemeral beings blown about upon the same winds of pleasure。
〃Well； Madam； I thought so myself till I got a wire from Mrs。
Melrose last evening；〃 remarked the perfect house…keeper；
following with Susy's handbag。
Mrs。 Melrose clutched her cavernous temples in her attenuated
hands。 〃Of course； of course！ I had meant to go to Chinano；
India 。。。。 But I've discovered a genius 。。。 and Genius； you
know 。。。。〃 Unable to complete her thought； she sank down upon a
pillowy divan； stretched out an arm； cried： 〃Fulmer！ Fulmer！〃
and； while Susy Lansing stood in the middle of the room with
widening eyes； a man emerged from the more deeply cushioned and
scented twilight of some inner apartment； and she saw with
surprise Nat Fulmer； the good Nat Fulmer of the New Hampshire
bungalow and the ubiquitous progeny； standing before her in
lordly ease； his hands in his pockets； a cigarette between his
lips； his feet solidly planted in the insidious depths of one of
Violet Melrose's white leopard skins。
〃Susy！〃 he shouted with open arms； and Mrs。 Melrose murmured：
〃You didn't know； then？ You hadn't heard of his masterpieces？〃
In spite of herself； Susy burst into a laugh。 〃Is Nat your
genius？〃
Mrs。 Melrose looked at her reproachfully。
Fulmer laughed。 〃No； I'm Grace's。 But Mrs。 Melrose has been
our Providence； and 。。。。〃
〃Providence？〃 his hostess interrupted。 〃Don't talk as if you
were at a prayer…meeting！ He had an exhibition in New York 。。。
it was the most fabulous success。 He's come abroad to make
studies for the decoration of my music…room in New York。 Ursula
Gillow has given him her garden…house at Roslyn to do。 And Mrs。
Bockheimer's ball…roomoh； Fulmer； where are the cartoons？〃
She sprang up； tossed about some fashion…papers heaped on a
lacquer table； and sank back exhausted by the effort。 〃I'd got
as far as Brindisi。 I've travelled day and night to be here to
meet him；〃 she declared。 〃But； you darling；〃 and she held out a
caressing hand to Susy； 〃I'm forgetting to ask if you've had
tea？〃
An hour later； over the tea…table； Susy already felt herself
mysteriously reabsorbed into what had so long been her native
element。 Ellie Vanderlyn had brought a breath of it to Venice；
but Susy was then nourished on another air； the air of Nick's
presence and personality； now that she was abandoned； left again
to her own devices； she felt herself suddenly at the mercy of
the influences from which she thought she had escaped。
In the queer social whirligig from which she had so lately fled；
it seemed natural enough that a shake of the box should have
tossed Nat Fulmer into celebrity； and sent Violet Melrose
chasing back from the ends of the earth to bask in his success。
Susy knew that Mrs。 Melrose belonged to the class of moral
parasites； for in that strange world the parts were sometimes
reversed； and the wealthy preyed upon the pauper。 Wherever
there was a reputation to batten on； there poor Violet appeared；
a harmless vampire in pearls who sought only to feed on the
notoriety which all her millions could not create for her。 Any
one less versed than Susy in the shallow mysteries of her little
world would have seen in Violet Melrose a baleful enchantress；
in Nat Fulmer her helpless victim。 Susy knew better。 Violet；
poor Violet； was not even that。 The insignificant Ellie
Vanderlyn； with her brief trivial passions； her artless mixture
of amorous and social interests； was a woman with a purpose； a
creature who fulfilled herself； but Violet was only a drifting
interrogation。
And what of Fulmer？ Mustering with new eyes his short sturdily…
built figure； his nondescript bearded face； and the eyes that
dreamed and wandered； and then suddenly sank into you like
claws； Susy seemed to have found the key to all his years of
dogged toil； his indifference to neglect； indifference to
poverty； indifference to the needs of his growing family 。。。。
Yes： for the first time she saw that he looked commonplace
enough to be a geniuswas a genius； perhaps； even though it was
Violet Melrose who affirmed it！ Susy looked steadily at Fulmer；
their eyes met； and he smiled at her faintly through his beard。
〃Yes； I did discover himI did；〃 Mrs。 Melrose was insisting；
from the depths of the black velvet divan in which she lay sunk
like a wan Nereid in a midnight sea。 〃You mustn't believe a
word that Ursula Gillow tells you about having pounced on his
'Spring Snow Storm' in a dark corner of the American Artists'
exhibitionskied； if you please！ They skied him less than a
year ago！ And naturally Ursula never in her life looked higher
than the first line at a picture…show。 And now she actually
pretends 。。。 oh； for pity's sake don't say it doesn't matter；
Fulmer！ Your saying that just encourages her； and makes people
think she did。 When； in reality； any one who saw me at the
exhibition on varnishing…day 。。。。 Who？ Well； Eddy
Breckenridge； for instance。 He was in Egypt； you say？ Perhaps
he was！ As if one could remember the people about one； when
suddenly one comes upon a great work of art； as St。 Paul did
didn't he？and the scales fell from his eyes。 Well 。。。 that's