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about you it proved that at least you were not in her way。
Violet； as usual； was perpetually on the wing； for her profound
indolence expressed itself in a disordered activity。 Nat Fulmer
had returned to Paris； but Susy guessed that his benefactress
was still constantly in his company； and that when Mrs。 Melrose
was whirled away in her noiseless motor it was generally toward
the scene of some new encounter between Fulmer and the arts。 On
these occasions she sometimes offered to carry Susy to Paris；
and they devoted several long and hectic mornings to the dress…
makers； where Susy felt herself gradually succumbing to the
familiar spell of heaped…up finery。 It seemed impossible； as
furs and laces and brocades were tossed aside； brought back； and
at last carelessly selected from； that anything but the whim of
the moment need count in deciding whether one should take all or
none； or that any woman could be worth looking at who did not
possess the means to make her choice regardless of cost。
Once alone； and in the street again； the evil fumes would
evaporate； and daylight re…enter Susy's soul； yet she felt that
the old poison was slowly insinuating itself into her system。
To dispel it she decided one day to look up Grace Fulmer。 She
was curious to know how the happy…go…lucky companion of Fulmer's
evil days was bearing the weight of his prosperity； and she
vaguely felt that it would be refreshing to see some one who had
never been afraid of poverty。
The airless pension sitting…room； where she waited while a
reluctant maid…servant screamed about the house for Mrs。 Fulmer；
did not have the hoped…for effect。 It was one thing for Grace
to put up with such quarters when she shared them with Fulmer；
but to live there while he basked in the lingering radiance of
Versailles； or rolled from chateau to picture gallery in Mrs。
Melrose's motor； showed a courage that Susy felt unable to
emulate。
〃My dear！ I knew you'd look me up；〃 Grace's joyous voice ran
down the stairway； and in another moment she was clasping Susy
to her tumbled person。
〃Nat couldn't remember if he'd given you our address； though he
promised me he would； the last time he was here。〃 She held Susy
at arms' length； beaming upon her with blinking short…sighted
eyes： the same old dishevelled Grace； so careless of her
neglected beauty and her squandered youth； so amused and absent…
minded and improvident； that the boisterous air of the New
Hampshire bungalow seemed to enter with her into the little air…
tight salon。
While she poured out the tale of Nat's sudden celebrity； and its
unexpected consequences； Susy marvelled and dreamed。 Was the
secret of his triumph perhaps due to those long hard unrewarded
years； the steadfast scorn of popularity； the indifference to
every kind of material ease in which his wife had so gaily
abetted him？ Had it been bought at the cost of her own
freshness and her own talent； of the children's 〃advantages；〃 of
everything except the closeness of the tie between husband and
wife？ Wellit was worth the price； no doubt； but what if； now
that honours and prosperity had come； the tie were snapped； and
Grace were left alone among the ruins？
There was nothing in her tone or words to suggest such a
possibility。 Susy noticed that her ill…assorted raiment was
costlier in quality and more professional in cut than the home…
made garments which had draped her growing bulk at the bungalow：
it was clear that she was trying to dress up to Nat's new
situation。 But； above all； she was rejoicing in it； filling her
hungry lungs with the strong air of his success。 It had
evidently not occurred to her as yet that those who consent to
share the bread of adversity may want the whole cake of
prosperity for themselves。
〃My dear； it's too wonderful！ He's told me to take as many
concert and opera tickets as I like； he lets me take all the
children with me。 The big concerts don't begin till later； but
of course the Opera is always going。 And there are little
thingsthere's music in Paris at all seasons。 And later it's
just possible we may get to Munich for a weekoh； Susy！〃 Her
hands clasped； her eyes brimming； she drank the new wine of life
almost sacramentally。
〃Do you remember； Susy； when you and Nick came to stay at the
bungalow？ Nat said you'd be horrified by our primitiveness…but
I knew better！ And I was right； wasn't I？ Seeing us so happy
made you and Nick decide to follow our example； didn't it？〃 She
glowed with the remembrance。 〃And now； what are your plans？ Is
Nick's book nearly done？ I suppose you'll have to live very
economically till he finds a publisher。 And the baby； darling…
when is that to be？ If you're coming home soon I could let you
have a lot of the children's little old things。〃
〃You're always so dear； Grace。 But we haven't any special plans
as yetnot even for a baby。 And I wish you'd tell me all of
yours instead。〃
Mrs。 Fulmer asked nothing better： Susy perceived that； so far；
the greater part of her European experience had consisted in
talking about what it was to be。 〃Well； you see； Nat is so
taken up all day with sight…seeing and galleries and meeting
important people that he hasn't had time to go about with us；
and as so few theatres are open； and there's so little music；
I've taken the opportunity to catch up with my mending。 Junie
helps me with it nowshe's our eldest； you remember？ She's
grown into a big girl since you saw her。 And later； perhaps；
we're to travel。 And the most wonderful thing of allnext to
Nat's recognition； I meanis not having to contrive and skimp；
and give up something every single minute。 Just thinkNat has
even made special arrangements here in the pension； so that the
children all have second helpings to everything。 And when I go
up to bed I can think of my music； instead of lying awake
calculating and wondering how I can make things come out at the
end of the month。 Oh； Susy； that's simply heaven！〃
Susy's heart contracted。 She had come to her friend to be
taught again the lesson of indifference to material things； and
instead she was hearing from Grace Fulmer's lips the long…
repressed avowal of their tyranny。 After all； that battle with
poverty on the New Hampshire hillside had not been the easy
smiling business that Grace and Nat had made it appear。 And yet
。。。 and yet 。。。。
Susy stood up abruptly； and straightened the expensive hat which
hung irresponsibly over Grace's left ear。
〃What's wrong with it？ Junie helped me choose it； and she
generally knows；〃 Mrs。 Fulmer wailed with helpless hands。
〃It's the way you wear it； dearestand the bow is rather top…
heavy。 Let me have it a minute； please。〃 Susy lifted the hat
from her friend's head and began to manipulate its trimming。
〃This is the way Maria Guy or Suzanne would do it 。。。。 And now
go on about Nat 。。。。〃
She listened musingly while G