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Hicks's way to mother her parents。 She was exceedingly kind to
them； but left them； as it were； to bring themselves up as best
they could； while she pursued her own course of self…
development。 A sombre zeal for knowledge filled the mind of
this strange girl： she appeared interested only in fresh
opportunities of adding to her store of facts。 They were
illuminated by little imagination and less poetry； but；
carefully catalogued and neatly sorted in her large cool brain；
they were always as accessible as the volumes in an up…to…date
public library。
To Nick there was something reposeful in this lucid intellectual
curiosity。 He wanted above all things to get away from
sentiment； from seduction； from the moods and impulses and
flashing contradictions that were Susy。 Susy was not a great
reader： her store of facts was small； and she had grown up
among people who dreaded ideas as much as if they had been a
contagious disease。 But； in the early days especially； when
Nick had put a book in her hand； or read a poem to her； her
swift intelligence had instantly shed a new light on the
subject； and； penetrating to its depths； had extracted from them
whatever belonged to her。 What a pity that this exquisite
insight； this intuitive discrimination； should for the most part
have been spent upon reading the thoughts of vulgar people； and
extracting a profit from themshould have been wasted； since
her childhood； on all the hideous intricacies of 〃managing〃！
And visible beautyhow she cared for that too！ He had not
guessed it； or rather he had not been sure of it； till the day
when； on their way through Paris； he had taken her to the
Louvre； and they had stood before the little Crucifixion of
Mantegna。 He had not been looking at the picture； or watching
to see what impression it produced on Susy。 His own momentary
mood was for Correggio and Fragonard； the laughter of the Music
Lesson and the bold pagan joys of the Antiope； and then he had
missed her from his side； and when he came to where she stood；
forgetting him； forgetting everything； had seen the glare of
that tragic sky in her face； her trembling lip； the tears on her
lashes。 That was Susy 。。。。
Closing his book he stole a glance at Coral Hicks's profile；
thrown back against the cushions of the deck…chair at his side。
There was something harsh and bracing in her blunt primitive
build； in the projection of the black eyebrows that nearly met
over her thick straight nose； and the faint barely visible black
down on her upper lip。 Some miracle of will…power； combined
with all the artifices that wealth can buy； had turned the fat
sallow girl he remembered into this commanding young woman；
almost handsome at times indisputably handsomein her big
authoritative way。 Watching the arrogant lines of her profile
against the blue sea； he remembered； with a thrill that was
sweet to his vanity； how twiceunder the dome of the Scalzi and
in the streets of Genoahe had seen those same lines soften at
his approach； turn womanly； pleading and almost humble。 That
was Coral 。。。。
Suddenly she said； without turning toward him： 〃You've had no
letters since you've been on board。〃
He looked at her； surprised。 〃Nothank the Lord！〃 he laughed。
〃And you haven't written one either；〃 she continued in her hard
statistical tone。
〃No；〃 he again agreed； with the same laugh。
〃That means that you really are free〃
〃Free？〃
He saw the cheek nearest him redden。 〃Really off on a holiday；
I mean； not tied down。〃 After a pause he rejoined： 〃No； I'm
not particularly tied down。〃
〃And your book？〃
〃Oh； my book〃 He stopped and considered。 He had thrust The
Pageant of Alexander into his handbag on the night of his Bight
from Venice； but since then he had never looked at it。 Too many
memories and illusions were pressed between its pages； and he
knew just at what page he had felt Ellie Vanderlyn bending over
him from behind； caught a whiff of her scent； and heard her
breathless 〃I had to thank you！〃
〃My book's hung up；〃 he said impatiently； annoyed with Miss
Hicks's lack of tact。 There was a girl who never put out
feelers 。。。。
〃Yes； I thought it was；〃 she went on quietly； and he gave her a
startled glance。 What the devil else did she think； he
wondered？ He had never supposed her capable of getting far
enough out of her own thick carapace of self…sufficiency to
penetrate into any one else's feelings。
〃The truth is；〃 he continued； embarrassed； 〃I suppose I dug away
at it rather too continuously； that's probably why I felt the
need of a change。 You see I'm only a beginner。〃
She still continued her relentless questioning。 〃But later
you'll go on with it； of course？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。〃 He paused； glanced down the glittering
deck； and then out across the glittering water。 〃I've been
dreaming dreams； you see。 I rather think I shall have to drop
the book altogether； and try to look out for a job that will
pay。 To indulge in my kind of literature one must first have an
assured income。〃
He was instantly annoyed with himself for having spoken。
Hitherto in his relations with the Hickses he had carefully
avoided the least allusion that might make him feel the heavy
hand of their beneficence。 But the idle procrastinating weeks
had weakened him and he had yielded to the need of putting into
words his vague intentions。 To do so would perhaps help to make
them more definite。
To his relief Miss Hicks made no immediate reply； and when she
spoke it was in a softer voice and with an unwonted hesitation。
〃It seems a shame that with gifts like yours you shouldn't find
some kind of employment that would leave you leisure enough to
do your real work 。。。。〃
He shrugged ironically。 〃Yesthere are a goodish number of us
hunting for that particular kind of employment。〃
Her tone became more business…like。 〃I know it's hard to
findalmost impossible。 But would you take it； I wonder； if it
were offered to you？〃
She turned her head slightly； and their eyes met。 For an
instant blank terror loomed upon him； but before he had time to
face it she continued； in the same untroubled voice： 〃Mr。
Buttles's place； I mean。 My parents must absolutely have some
one they can count on。 You know what an easy place it is 。。。。
I think you would find the salary satisfactory。〃
Nick drew a deep breath of relief。 For a moment her eyes had
looked as they had in the Scalziand he liked the girl too much
not to shrink from reawakening that look。 But Mr。 Buttles's
place： why not？
〃Poor Buttles！〃 he murmured； to gain time。
〃Oh；〃 she said； 〃you won't find the same reasons as he did for
throwing up the job。 He was the martyr of his artistic
convictions。〃
He glanced at her sideways； wondering。 After all she did not
know of his meeting with Mr。 Buttles in Genoa； nor of the
latter's confidences； perhaps