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in under the door when she shut the window。 This nauseating
foretaste of the luncheon she must presently go down to was more
than she could bear。 It brought with it a vision of the dank
coffee…room below； the sooty Smyrna rug； the rain on the sky…
light； the listless waitresses handing about food that tasted as
if it had been rained on too。 There was really no reason why
she should let such material miseries add to her depression 。。。。
She sprang up； put on her hat and jacket； and calling for a taxi
drove to the London branch of the Nouveau Luxe hotel。 It was
just one o'clock and she was sure to pick up a luncheon； for
though London was empty that great establishment was not。 It
never was。 Along those sultry velvet…carpeted halls； in that
great flowered and scented dining…room； there was always a come…
and…go of rich aimless people； the busy people who； having
nothing to do； perpetually pursue their inexorable task from one
end of the earth to the other。
Oh； the monotony of those facesthe faces one always knew；
whether one knew the people they belonged to or not！ A fresh
disgust seized her at the sight of them： she wavered； and then
turned and fled。 But on the threshold a still more familiar
figure met her： that of a lady in exaggerated pearls and
sables； descending from an exaggerated motor； like the motors in
magazine advertisements； the huge arks in which jewelled
beauties and slender youths pause to gaze at snowpeaks from an
Alpine summit。
It was Ursula Gillowdear old Ursula； on her way to Scotland
and she and Susy fell on each other's necks。 It appeared that
Ursula； detained till the next evening by a dress…maker's delay；
was also out of a job and killing time； and the two were soon
smiling at each other over the exquisite preliminaries of a
luncheon which the head…waiter had authoritatively asked Mrs。
Gillow to 〃leave to him； as usual。〃
Ursula was in a good humour。 It did not often happen； but when
it did her benevolence knew no bounds。
Like Mrs。 Melrose； like all her tribe in fact； she was too much
absorbed in her own affairs to give more than a passing thought
to any one else's； but she was delighted at the meeting with
Susy； as her wandering kind always were when they ran across
fellow…wanderers； unless the meeting happened to interfere with
choicer pleasures。 Not to be alone was the urgent thing； and
Ursula； who had been forty…eight hours alone in London； at once
exacted from her friend a promise that they should spend the
rest of the day together。 But once the bargain struck her mind
turned again to her own affairs； and she poured out her
confidences to Susy over a succession of dishes that manifested
the head…waiter's understanding of the case。
Ursula's confidences were always the same； though they were
usually about a different person。 She demolished and rebuilt
her sentimental life with the same frequency and impetuosity as
that with which she changed her dress…makers； did over her
drawing…rooms； ordered new motors； altered the mounting of her
jewels； and generally renewed the setting of her life。 Susy
knew in advance what the tale would be； but to listen to it over
perfect coffee； an amber…scented cigarette at her lips； was
pleasanter than consuming cold mutton alone in a mouldy coffee…
room。 The contrast was so soothing that she even began to take
a languid interest in her friend's narrative。
After luncheon they got into the motor together and began a
systematic round of the West End shops： furriers； jewellers and
dealers in old furniture。 Nothing could be more unlike Violet
Melrose's long hesitating sessions before the things she thought
she wanted till the moment came to decide。 Ursula pounced on
silver foxes and old lacquer as promptly and decisively as on
the objects of her surplus sentimentality： she knew at once
what she wanted； and valued it more after it was hers。
〃And nowI wonder if you couldn't help me choose a grand
piano？〃 she suggested； as the last antiquarian bowed them out。
〃A piano？〃
〃Yes： for Ruan。 I'm sending one down for Grace Fulmer。 She's
coming to stay 。。。 did I tell you？ I want people to hear her。
I want her to get engagements in London。 My dear； she's a
Genius。〃
〃A GeniusGrace！〃 Susy gasped。 〃I thought it was Nat 。。。。〃
〃NatNat Fulmer？ Ursula laughed derisively。 〃Ah； of course
you've been staying with that silly Violet！ The poor thing is
off her head about Natit's really pitiful。 Of course he has
talent： I saw that long before Violet had ever heard of him。
Why； on the opening day of the American Artists' exhibition；
last winter； I stopped short before his 'Spring Snow…Storm'
（which nobody else had noticed till that moment）； and said to
the Prince； who was with me： 'The man has talent。' But
geniuswhy； it's his wife who has genius！ Have you never heard
Grace play the violin？ Poor Violet； as usual； is off on the
wrong tack。 I've given Fulmer my garden…house to dono doubt
Violet told youbecause I wanted to help him。 But Grace is my
discovery； and I'm determined to make her known； and to have
every one understand that she is the genius of the two。 I've
told her she simply must come to Ruan； and bring the best
accompanyist she can find。 You know poor Nerone is dreadfully
bored by sport； though of course he goes out with the guns。 And
if one didn't have a little art in the evening 。。。。 Oh； Susy；
do you mean to tell me you don't know how to choose a piano？ I
thought you were so fond of music！〃
〃I am fond of it； but without knowing anything about itin the
way we're all of us fond of the worthwhile things in our stupid
set；〃 she added to herselfsince it was obviously useless to
impart such reflections to Ursula。
〃But are you sure Grace is coming？〃 she questioned aloud。
〃Quite sure。 Why shouldn't she？ I wired to her yesterday。 I'm
giving her a thousand dollars and all her expenses。〃
It was not till they were having tea in a Piccadilly tea…room
that Mrs。 Gillow began to manifest some interest in her
companion's plans。 The thought of losing Susy became suddenly
intolerable to her。 The Prince； who did not see why he should
be expected to linger in London out of season； was already at
Ruan； and Ursula could not face the evening and the whole of the
next day by herself。
〃But what are you doing in town； darling； I don't remember if
I've asked you；〃 she said； resting her firm elbows on the tea…
table while she took a light from Susy's cigarette。
Susy hesitated。 She had foreseen that the time must soon come
when she should have to give some account of herself； and why
should she not begin by telling Ursula？
But telling her what？
Her silence appeared to strike Mrs。 Gillow as a reproach； and
she continued with compunction： 〃And Nick？ Nick's with you？
How is he； I thought you and he still were in Venice with Ellie
Vanderlyn。〃
〃We we