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didn't he？and the scales fell from his eyes。 Well 。。。 that's
exactly what happened to me that day 。。。 and Ursula； everybody
knows； was down at Roslyn at the time； and didn't come up for
the opening of the exhibition at all。 And Fulmer sits there and
laughs； and says it doesn't matter； and that he'll paint another
picture any day for me to discover！〃
Susy had rung the door…bell with a hand trembling with
eagernesseagerness to be alone； to be quiet； to stare her
situation in the face； and collect herself before she came out
again among her kind。 She had stood on the door…step； cowering
among her bags； counting the instants till a step sounded and
the door…knob turned； letting her in from the searching glare of
the outer world 。。。。 And now she had sat for an hour in
Violet's drawing…room； in the very house where her honey…moon
might have been spent； and no one had asked her where she had
come from； or why she was alone； or what was the key to the
tragedy written on her shrinking face 。。。。
That was the way of the world they lived in。 Nobody questioned；
nobody wondered any more…because nobody had time to remember。
The old risk of prying curiosity； of malicious gossip； was
virtually over： one was left with one's drama； one's disaster；
on one's hands； because there was nobody to stop and notice the
little shrouded object one was carrying。 As Susy watched the
two people before her； each so frankly unaffected by her
presence； Violet Melrose so engrossed in her feverish pursuit of
notoriety； Fulmer so plunged in the golden sea of his success；
she felt like a ghost making inaudible and imperceptible appeals
to the grosser senses of the living。
〃If I wanted to be alone；〃 she thought； 〃I'm alone enough； in
all conscience。〃 There was a deathly chill in such security。
She turned to Fulmer。
〃And Grace？〃
He beamed back without sign of embarrassment。 〃Oh； she's here；
naturallywe're in Paris； kids and all。 In a pension； where we
can polish up the lingo。 But I hardly ever lay eyes on her；
because she's as deep in music as I am in paint； it was as big a
chance for her as for me； you see； and she's making the most of
it； fiddling and listening to the fiddlers。 Well； it's a
considerable change from New Hampshire。〃 He looked at her
dreamily； as if making an intense effort to detach himself from
his dream； and situate her in the fading past。 〃Remember the
bungalow？ And Nickah； how's Nick？〃 he brought out
triumphantly。
〃Oh； yesdarling Nick？〃 Mrs。 Melrose chimed in； and Susy； her
head erect； her cheeks aflame； declared with resonance： 〃Most
awfully wellsplendidly！〃
〃He's not here； though？〃 from Fulmer。
〃No。 He's off travellingcruising。〃
Mrs。 Melrose's attention was faintly roused。 〃With anybody
interesting？〃
〃No； you wouldn't know them。 People we met 。。。。〃 She did not
have to continue； for her hostess's gaze had again strayed。
〃And you've come for your clothes； I suppose； darling？ Don't
listen to people who say that skirts are to be wider。 I've
discovered a new womana Geniusand she absolutely swathes
you。。。。 Her name's my secret； but we'll go to her together。〃
Susy rose from her engulphing armchair。 〃Do you mind if I go up
to my room？ I'm rather tiredcoming straight through。〃
〃Of course； dear。 I think there are some people coming to
dinner 。。。 Mrs。 Match will tell you。 She has such a memory 。。。。
Fulmer； where on earth are those cartoons of the music…room？〃
Their voices pursued Susy upstairs； as； in Mrs。 Match's
perpendicular wake； she mounted to the white…panelled room with
its gay linen hangings and the low bed heaped with more
cushions。
〃If we'd come here；〃 she thought； 〃everything might have been
different。〃 And she shuddered at the sumptuous memories of the
Palazzo Vanderlyn； and the great painted bedroom where she had
met her doom。
Mrs。 Match； hoping she would find everything； and mentioning
that dinner was not till nine； shut her softly in among her
terrors。
〃Find everything？〃 Susy echoed the phrase。 Oh； yes； she would
always find everything： every time the door shut on her now；
and the sound of voices ceased； her memories would be there
waiting for her； every one of them； waiting quietly； patiently；
obstinately； like poor people in a doctor's office； the people
who are always last to be attended to； but whom nothing will
discourage or drive away； people to whom time is nothing；
fatigue nothing； hunger nothing； other engagements nothing： who
just wait 。。。。 Thank heaven； after all； that she had not found
the house empty； if； whenever she returned to her room； she was
to meet her memories there！
It was just a week since Nick had left her。 During that week；
crammed with people； questions； packing； explaining； evading；
she had believed that in solitude lay her salvation。 Now she
understood that there was nothing she was so unprepared for； so
unfitted for。 When； in all her life； had she ever been alone？
And how was she to bear it now； with all these ravening memories
besetting her！
Dinner not till nine？ What on earth was she to do till nine
o'clock？ She knelt before her boxes； and feverishly began to
unpack。
Gradually； imperceptibly； the subtle influences of her old life
were stealing into her。 As she pulled out her tossed and
crumpled dresses she remembered Violet's emphatic warning：
〃Don't believe the people who tell you that skirts are going to
be wider。〃 Were hers； perhaps； too wide as it was？ She looked
at her limp raiment； piling itself up on bed and sofa； and
understood that； according to Violet's standards； and that of
all her set； those dresses； which Nick had thought so original
and exquisite； were already commonplace and dowdy； fit only to
be passed on to poor relations or given to one's maid。 And Susy
would have to go on wearing them till they fell to bits…or
else 。。。。 Well； or else begin the old life again in some new
form 。。。。
She laughed aloud at the turn of her thoughts。 Dresses？ How
little they had mattered a few short weeks ago！ And now；
perhaps； they would again be one of the foremost considerations
in her life。 How could it be otherwise； if she were to return
again to her old dependence on Ellie Vanderlyn； Ursula Gillow；
Violet Melrose？ And beyond that； only the Bockheimers and their
kind awaited her 。。。。
A knock on the doorwhat a relief！ It was Mrs。 Match again；
with a telegram。 To whom had Susy given her new address？ With
a throbbing heart she tore open the envelope and read：
〃Shall be in Paris Friday for twenty…four hours where can I see
you write Nouveau Luxe。〃
Ah； yesshe remembered now： she had written to Strefford！ And
this was his answer： he was coming。 She dropped into a chair；
and tried to think。 What on earth had she said in her letter？
It had been mainly； of course； one of condolence； but now she
remembered having a