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go on about Nat 。。。。〃
She listened musingly while Grace poured forth the tale of her
husband's triumph； of the notices in the papers； the demand for
his work； the fine ladies' battles over their priority in
discovering him； and the multiplied orders that had resulted
from their rivalry。
〃Of course they're simply furious with each other…Mrs。 Melrose
and Mrs。 Gillow especiallybecause each one pretends to have
been the first to notice his 'Spring Snow…Storm；' and in reality
it wasn't either of them； but only poor Bill Haslett； an art…
critic we've known for years； who chanced on the picture； and
rushed off to tell a dealer who was looking for a new painter to
push。〃 Grace suddenly raised her soft myopic eyes to Susy's
face。 〃But； do you know； the funny thing is that I believe Nat
is beginning to forget this； and to believe that it was Mrs。
Melrose who stopped short in front of his picture on the opening
day； and screamed out： 'This is genius！' It seems funny he
should care so much； when I've always known he had genius…and
he has known it too。 But they're all so kind to him； and Mrs。
Melrose especially。 And I suppose it makes a thing sound new to
hear it said in a new voice。〃
Susy looked at her meditatively。 〃And how should you feel if
Nat liked too much to hear Mrs。 Melrose say it？ Too much； I
mean； to care any longer what you felt or thought？〃
Her friend's worn face flushed quickly； and then paled： Susy
almost repented the question。 But Mrs。 Fulmer met it with a
tranquil dignity。 〃You haven't been married long enough； dear；
to understand 。。。 how people like Nat and me feel about such
things 。。。 or how trifling they seem； in the balance 。。。 the
balance of one's memories。〃
Susy stood up again； and flung her arms about her friend。 〃Oh；
Grace；〃 she laughed with wet eyes； 〃how can you be as wise as
that； and yet not have sense enough to buy a decent hat？〃 She
gave Mrs。 Fulmer a quick embrace and hurried away。 She had
learned her lesson after all； but it was not exactly the one she
had come to seek。
The week she had allowed herself had passed； and still there was
no word from Nick。 She allowed herself yet another day； and
that too went by without a letter。 She then decided on a step
from which her pride had hitherto recoiled； she would call at
the bank and ask for Nick's address。 She called； embarrassed
and hesitating； and was told； after enquiries in the post…office
department； that Mr。 Nicholas Lansing had given no address since
that of the Palazzo Vanderlyn； three months previously。 She
went back to Versailles that afternoon with the definite
intention of writing to Strefford unless the next morning's post
brought a letter。
The next morning brought nothing from Nick； but a scribbled
message from Mrs。 Melrose： would Susy； as soon as possible；
come into her room for a word； Susy jumped up； hurried through
her bath； and knocked at her hostess's door。 In the immense low
bed that faced the rich umbrage of the park Mrs。 Melrose lay
smoking cigarettes and glancing over her letters。 She looked up
with her vague smile； and said dreamily： 〃Susy darling； have
you any particular plansfor the next few months； I mean？〃
Susy coloured： she knew the intonation of old； and fancied she
understood what it implied。
〃Plans； dearest？ Any number 。。。 I'm tearing myself away the day
after to…morrow 。。。 to the Gillows' moor； very probably；〃 she
hastened to announce。
Instead of the relief she had expected to read on Mrs。 Melrose's
dramatic countenance she discovered there the blankest
disappointment。
〃Oh； really？ That's too bad。 Is it absolutely settled？〃
〃As far as I'm concerned；〃 said Susy crisply。
The other sighed。 〃I'm too sorry。 You see； dear； I'd meant to
ask you to stay on here quietly and look after the Fulmer
children。 Fulmer and I are going to Spain next weekI want to
be with him when he makes his studies； receives his first
impressions； such a marvellous experience； to be there when he
and Velasquez meet！〃 She broke off； lost in prospective
ecstasy。 〃And； you see； as Grace Fulmer insists on coming with
us〃
〃Ah； I see。〃
〃Well； there are the five childrensuch a problem；〃 sighed the
benefactress。 〃If you were at a loose end； you know； dear；
while Nick's away with his friends； I could really make it worth
your while 。。。。〃
〃So awfully good of you； Violet； only I'm not； as it happens。〃
Oh the relief of being able to say that； gaily； firmly and even
truthfully！ Take charge of the Fulmer children； indeed！ Susy
remembered how Nick and she had fled from them that autumn
afternoon in New Hampshire。 The offer gave her a salutary
glimpse of the way in which； as the years passed； and she lost
her freshness and novelty； she would more and more be used as a
convenience； a stop…gap； writer of notes； runner of errands；
nursery governess or companion。 She called to mind several
elderly women of her acquaintance； pensioners of her own group；
who still wore its livery； struck its attitudes and chattered
its jargon； but had long since been ruthlessly relegated to
these slave…ant offices。 Never in the world would she join
their numbers。
Mrs。 Melrose's face fell； and she looked at Susy with the
plaintive bewilderment of the wielder of millions to whom
everything that cannot be bought is imperceptible。
〃But I can't see why you can't change your plans；〃 she murmured
with a soft persistency。
〃Ah； well； you know〃Susy paused on a slow inward smile
〃they're not mine only； as it happens。〃
Mrs。 Melrose's brow clouded。 The unforeseen complication of
Mrs。 Fulmer's presence on the journey had evidently tried her
nerves； and this new obstacle to her arrangements shook her
faith in the divine order of things。
〃Your plans are not yours only？ But surely you won't let Ursula
Gillow dictate to you？ 。。。 There's my jade pendant； the one you
said you liked the other day 。。。。 The Fulmers won't go with me；
you understand； unless they're satisfied about the children； the
whole plan will fall through。 Susy darling； you were always too
unselfish； I hate to see you sacrificed to Ursula。〃
Susy's smile lingered。 Time was when she might have been glad
to add the jade pendant to the collection already enriched by
Ellie Vanderlyn's sapphires； more recently； she would have
resented the offer as an insult to her newly…found principles。
But already the mere fact that she might henceforth； if she
chose； be utterly out of reach of such bribes； enabled her to
look down on them with tolerance。 Oh； the blessed moral freedom
that wealth conferred！ She recalled Mrs。 Fulmer's
uncontrollable cry： 〃The most wonderful thing of all is not
having to contrive and skimp； and give up something every single
minute！〃 Yes； it was only on such terms that one could call
one's soul one's own。 The sense of it gave Susy the grace to
answ