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How is he； I thought you and he still were in Venice with Ellie
Vanderlyn。〃
〃We were； for a few weeks。〃 She steadied her voice。 〃It was
delightful。 But now we're both on our own againfor a while。〃
Mrs。 Gillow scrutinized her more searchingly。 〃Oh； you're alone
here； then； quite alone？〃
〃Yes： Nick's cruising with some friends in the Mediterranean。〃
Ursula's shallow gaze deepened singularly。 〃But； Susy darling；
then if you're aloneand out of a job； just for the moment？〃
Susy smiled。 〃Well； I'm not sure。〃
〃Oh； but if you are； darling； and you would come to Ruan！ I
know Fred asked you didn't he？ And he told me that both you and
Nick had refused。 He was awfully huffed at your not coming； but
I suppose that was because Nick had other plans。 We couldn't
have him now； because there's no room for another gun； but since
he's not here； and you're free； why you know； dearest； don't
you； how we'd love to have you？ Fred would be too gladtoo
outrageously gladbut you don't much mind Fred's love…making；
do you？ And you'd be such a help to meif that's any argument！
With that big house full of men； and people flocking over every
night to dine； and Fred caring only for sport； and Nerone simply
loathing it and ridiculing it； and not a minute to myself to try
to keep him in a good humour 。。。。 Oh； Susy darling； don't say
no； but let me telephone at once for a place in the train to
morrow night！〃
Susy leaned back； letting the ash lengthen on her cigarette。
How familiar； how hatefully familiar； was that old appeal！
Ursula felt the pressing need of someone to flirt with Fred for
a few weeks 。。。 and here was the very person she needed。 Susy
shivered at the thought。 She had never really meant to go to
Ruan。 She had simply used the moor as a pretext when Violet
Melrose had gently put her out of doors。 Rather than do what
Ursula asked she would borrow a few hundred pounds of Strefford；
as he had suggested； and then look about for some temporary
occupation until
Until she became Lady Altringham？ Well； perhaps。 At any rate；
she was not going back to slave for Ursula。
She shook her head with a faint smile。 〃I'm so sorry； Ursula：
of course I want awfully to oblige you〃
Mrs。 Gillow's gaze grew reproachful。 〃I should have supposed
you would；〃 she murmured。 Susy； meeting her eyes； looked into
them down a long vista of favours bestowed； and perceived that
Ursula was not the woman to forget on which side the obligation
lay between them。
Susy hesitated： she remembered the weeks of ecstasy she had
owed to the Gillows' wedding cheque； and it hurt her to appear
ungrateful。
〃If I could； Ursula 。。。 but really 。。。 I'm not free at the
moment。〃 She paused； and then took an abrupt decision。 〃The
fact is； I'm waiting here to see Strefford。〃
〃Strefford' Lord Altringham？〃 Ursula stared。 〃Ah； yes…I
remember。 You and he used to be great friends； didn't you？〃
Her roving attention deepened 。。。。 But if Susy were waiting to
see Lord Altringhamone of the richest men in England！
Suddenly Ursula opened her gold…meshed bag and snatched a
miniature diary from it。
〃But wait a momentyes； it is next week！ I knew it was next
week he's coming to Ruan！ But； you darling； that makes
everything all right。 You'll send him a wire at once； and come
with me tomorrow； and meet him there instead of in this nasty
sloppy desert 。。。。 Oh； Susy； if you knew how hard life is for
me in Scotland between the Prince and Fred you couldn't possibly
say no！〃
Susy still wavered； but； after all； if Strefford were really
bound for Ruan； why not see him there； agreeably and at leisure；
instead of spending a dreary day with him in roaming the wet
London streets； or screaming at him through the rattle of a
restaurant orchestra？ She knew he would not be likely to
postpone his visit to Ruan in order to linger in London with
her： such concessions had never been his way； and were less
than ever likely to be； now that he could do so thoroughly and
completely as he pleased。
For the first time she fully understood how different his
destiny had become。 Now of course all his days and hours were
mapped out in advance： invitations assailed him； opportunities
pressed on him； he had only to choose 。。。。 And the women！ She
had never before thought of the women。 All the girls in England
would be wanting to marry him； not to mention her own
enterprising compatriots。 And there were the married women； who
were even more to be feared。 Streff might； for the time； escape
marriage； though she could guess the power of persuasion； family
pressure； all the converging traditional influences he had so
often ridiculed； yet； as she knew； had never completely thrown
off 。。。。 Yes； those quiet invisible women at Altringham…his
uncle's widow； his mother； the spinster sistersit was not
impossible that； with tact and patienceand the stupidest women
could be tactful and patient on such occasionsthey might
eventually persuade him that it was his duty； they might put
just the right young loveliness in his way 。。。。 But meanwhile；
now； at once； there were the married women。 Ah； they wouldn't
wait； they were doubtless laying their traps already！ Susy
shivered at the thought。 She knew too much about the way the
trick was done； had followed； too often； all the sinuosities of
such approaches。 Not that they were very sinuous nowadays：
more often there was just a swoop and a pounce when the time
came； but she knew all the arts and the wiles that led up to it。
She knew them； oh； how she knew themthough with Streff； thank
heaven； she had never been called upon to exercise them！ His
love was there for the asking： would she not be a fool to
refuse it？
Perhaps； though on that point her mind still wavered。 But at
any rate she saw that； decidedly； it would be better to yield to
Ursula's pressure； better to meet him at Ruan； in a congenial
setting； where she would have time to get her bearings； observe
what dangers threatened him； and make up her mind whether； after
all； it was to be her mission to save him from the other women。
〃Well； if you like； then； Ursula 。。。。〃
〃Oh； you angel； you！ I'm so glad！ We'll go to the nearest post
office； and send off the wire ourselves。〃
As they got into the motor Mrs。 Gillow seized Susy's arm with a
pleading pressure。 〃And you will let Fred make love to you a
little； won't you； darling？〃
XVIII
〃BUT I can't think；〃 said Ellie Vanderlyn earnestly； 〃why you
don't announce your engagement before waiting for your divorce。
People are beginning to do it； I assure youit's so much
safer！〃
Mrs。 Vanderlyn； on the way back from St。 Moritz to England； had
paused in Paris to renew the depleted wardrobe which； only two
months earlier； had filled so many trunks to bursting。 Other
ladies； flocking there from all points of the globe for the same
purpose