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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 added； in a precipitate postscript： 〃I can't
give your message to Nick； for he's gone off with the Hickses…I
don't know where； or for how long。 It's all right； of course：
it was in our bargain。〃
She had not meant to put in that last phrase； but as she sealed
her letter to Strefford her eye had fallen on Nick's missive；
which lay beside it。 Nothing in her husband's brief lines had
embittered her as much as the allusion to Strefford。 It seemed
to imply that Nick's own plans were made； that his own future
was secure； and that he could therefore freely and handsomely
take thought for hers； and give her a pointer in the right
direction。 Sudden rage had possessed her at the thought： where
she had at first read jealousy she now saw only a cold
providence； and in a blur of tears she had scrawled her
postscript to Strefford。 She remembered that she had not even
asked him to keep her secret。 Wellafter all； what would it
matter if people should already know that Nick had left her？
Their parting could not long remain a mystery； and the fact that
it was known might help her to keep up a presence of
indifference。
〃It was in the bargainin the bargain；〃 rang through her brain
as she re…read Strefford's telegram。 She understood that he had
snatched the time for this hasty trip solely in the hope of
seeing her； and her eyes filled。 The more bitterly she thought
of Nick the more this proof of Strefford's friendship moved her。
The clock； to her relief； reminded her that it was time to dress
for dinner。 She would go down presently； chat with Violet and
Fulmer； and with Violet's other guests； who would probably be
odd and amusing； and too much out of her world to embarrass her
by awkward questions。 She would sit at a softly…lit table；
breathe delicate scents； eat exquisite food （trust Mrs。 Match！）；
and be gradually drawn again under the spell of her old
associations。 Anything； anything but to be alone 。。。。
She dressed with even more than her habitual care； reddened her
lips attentively； brushed the faintest bloom of pink over her
drawn cheeks； and went downto meet Mrs。 Match coming up with a
tray。
〃Oh； Madam； I thought you were too tired 。。。。 I was bringing it
up to you myselfjust a little morsel of chicken。〃
Susy； glancing past her； saw； through the open door； that the
lamps were not lit in the drawing…room。
〃Oh； no； I'm not tired； thank you。 I thought Mrs。 Melrose
expected friends at dinner！〃
〃Friends at dinner…to…night？〃 Mrs。 Match heaved a despairing
sigh。 Sometimes； the sigh seemed to say； her mistress put too
great a strain upon her。 〃Why； Mrs。 Melrose and Mr。 Fulmer were
engaged to dine in Paris。 They left an hour ago。 Mrs。 Melrose
told me she'd told you；〃 the house…keeper wailed。
Susy kept her little fixed smile。 〃I must have misunderstood。
In that case 。。。 well； yes； if it's no trouble； I believe I will
have my tray upstairs。 〃
Slowly she turned； and followed the housekeeper up into the
dread solitude she had just left。
XIV
THE next day a lot of people turned up unannounced for luncheon。
They were not of the far…fetched and the exotic； in whom Mrs。
Melrose now specialized； but merely commonplace fashionable
people belonging to Susy's own group； people familiar with the
amusing romance of her penniless marriage； and to whom she had
to explain （though none of them really listened to the
explanation） that Nick was not with her just now but had gone
off cruising 。。。 cruising in the AEgean with friends 。。。 getting
up material for his book （this detail had occurred to her in the
night）。
It was the kind of encounter she had most dreaded； but it
proved； after all； easy enough to go through compared with those
endless hours of turning to and fro； the night before； in the
cage of her lonely room。 Anything； anything； but to be
alone 。。。。
Gradually； from the force of habit； she found herself actually
in tune with the talk of the luncheon table； interested in the
references to absent friends； the light allusions to last year's
loves and quarrels； scandals and absurdities。 The women； in
their pale summer dresses； were so graceful； indolent and sure
of themselves； the men so easy and good…humoured！ Perhaps；
after all； Susy reflected； it was the world she was meant for；
since the other； the brief Paradise of her dreams； had already
shut its golden doors upon her。 And then； as they sat on the
terrace after luncheon； looking across at the yellow tree…tops
of the park； one of the women said somethingmade just an
allusionthat Susy would have let pass unnoticed in the old
days； but that now filled her with a sudden deep disgust 。。。。
She stood up and wandered away； away from them all through the
fading garden。
Two days later Susy and Strefford sat on the terrace of the
Tuileries above the Seine。 She had asked him to meet her there；
with the desire to avoid the crowded halls and drawing…room of
the Nouveau Luxe where； even at that supposedly 〃dead〃 season；
people one knew were always drifting to and fro； and they sat on
a bench in the pale sunlight； the discoloured leaves heaped at
their feet； and no one to share their solitude but a lame
working…man and a haggard woman who were lunching together
mournfully at the other end of the majestic vista。
Strefford； in his new mourning； looked unnaturally prosperous
and well…valeted； but his ugly untidy features remained as
undisciplined； his smile as whimsical； as of old。 He had been
on cool though friendly terms with the pompous uncle and the
poor sickly cousin whose joint disappearance had so abruptly
transformed his future； and it was his way to understate his
feelings rather than to pretend more than he felt。
Nevertheless； beneath his habitual bantering tone Susy discerned
a change。 The disaster had shocked him profoundly； already； in
his brief sojourn among his people and among the great
possessions so tragically acquired； old instincts had awakened；
forgotten associations had spoken in him。 Susy listened to him
wistfully； silenced by her imaginative perception of the
distance that these things had put between them。
〃It was horrible 。。。 seeing them both there together； laid out
in that hideous Pugin chapel at Altringham 。。。 the poor boy
especially。 I suppose that's really what's cutting me up now；〃
he murmured； almost apologetically。
〃Oh； it's more than thatmore than you know；〃 she insisted； but
he jerked back： 〃Now； my dear； don't be edifying； please；〃 and
fumbled for a cigarette in the pocket which was already
beginning to bulge with his miscellaneous properties。
〃And now about youfor that's what I came for；〃 he continued；
turning to her with one of his sudden movements。 〃I couldn't
make head or tail of your le