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tolerance and irony。 They had both； in early youth； taken the
measure of the world they happened to live in： they knew just
what it was worth to them and for what reasons； and the
community of these reasons lent to their intimacy its last
exquisite touch。 And now； because of some jealous whim of a
dissatisfied fool of a woman； as to whom he felt himself no more
to blame than any young man who has paid for good dinners by
good manners； he was to be deprived of the one complete
companionship he had ever known 。。。。
His thoughts travelled on。 He recalled the long dull spring in
New York after his break with Susy； the weary grind on his last
articles； his listless speculations as to the cheapest and least
boring way of disposing of the summer； and then the amazing luck
of going； reluctantly and at the last minute； to spend a Sunday
with the poor Nat Fulmers； in the wilds of New Hampshire； and of
finding Susy thereSusy； whom he had never even suspected of
knowing anybody in the Fulmers' set！
She had behaved perfectlyand so had hebut they were
obviously much too glad to see each other。 And then it was
unsettling to be with her in such a house as the Fulmers'； away
from the large setting of luxury they were both used to； in the
cramped cottage where their host had his studio in the verandah；
their hostess practiced her violin in the dining…room； and five
ubiquitous children sprawled and shouted and blew trumpets and
put tadpoles in the water…jugs； and the mid…day dinner was two
hours late…and proportionately badbecause the Italian cook
was posing for Fulmer。
Lansing's first thought had been that meeting Susy in such
circumstances would be the quickest way to cure them both of
their regrets。 The case of the Fulmers was an awful object…
lesson in what happened to young people who lost their heads；
poor Nat； whose pictures nobody bought； had gone to seed so
terribly…and Grace； at twenty…nine； would never again be
anything but the woman of whom people say； 〃I can remember her
when she was lovely。〃
But the devil of it was that Nat had never been such good
company； or Grace so free from care and so full of music； and
that； in spite of their disorder and dishevelment； and the bad
food and general crazy discomfort； there was more amusement to
be got out of their society than out of the most opulently
staged house…party through which Susy and Lansing had ever
yawned their way。
It was almost a relief to tile young man when； on the second
afternoon； Miss Branch drew him into the narrow hall to say： 〃I
really can't stand the combination of Grace's violin and little
Nat's motor…horn any longer。 Do let us slip out till the duet
is over。〃
〃How do they stand it； I wonder？〃 he basely echoed； as he
followed her up the wooded path behind the house。
〃It might be worth finding out；〃 she rejoined with a musing
smile。
But he remained resolutely skeptical。 〃Oh； give them a year or
two more and they'll collapse！ His pictures will never sell；
you know。 He'll never even get them into a show。〃
〃I suppose not。 And she'll never have time to do anything worth
while with her music。〃
They had reached a piny knoll high above the ledge on which the
house was perched。 All about them stretched an empty landscape
of endless featureless wooded hills。 〃Think of sticking here
all the year round！〃 Lansing groaned。
〃I know。 But then think of wandering over the world with some
people！〃
〃Oh； Lord； yes。 For instance； my trip to India with the
Mortimer Hickses。 But it was my only chance and what the deuce
is one to do？〃
〃I wish I knew！〃 she sighed； thinking of the Bockheimers； and
he turned and looked at her。
〃Knew what？〃
〃The answer to your question。 What is one to dowhen one sees
both sides of the problem？ Or every possible side of it；
indeed？〃
They had seated themselves on a commanding rock under the pines；
but Lansing could not see the view at their feet for the stir of
the brown lashes on her cheek。
〃You mean： Nat and Grace may after all be having the best of
it？〃
〃How can I say； when I've told you I see all the sides？ Of
course；〃 Susy added hastily； 〃 I couldn't live as they do for a
week。 But it's wonderful how little it's dimmed them。〃
〃Certainly Nat was never more coruscating。 And she keeps it up
even better。〃 He reflected。 〃We do them good； I daresay。〃
〃Yesor they us。 I wonder which？〃
After that； he seemed to remember that they sat a long time
silent； and that his next utterance was a boyish outburst
against the tyranny of the existing order of things； abruptly
followed by the passionate query why； since he and she couldn't
alter it； and since they both had the habit of looking at facts
as they were； they wouldn't be utter fools not to take their
chance of being happy in the only way that was open to them； To
this challenge he did not recall Susy's making any definite
answer； but after another interval； in which all the world
seemed framed in a sudden kiss； he heard her murmur to herself
in a brooding tone： 〃I don't suppose it's ever been tried
before； but we might。〃 And then and there she had laid before
him the very experiment they had since hazarded。
She would have none of surreptitious bliss； she began by
declaring； and she set forth her reasons with her usual lucid
impartiality。 In the first place； she should have to marry some
day； and when she made the bargain she meant it to be an honest
one； and secondly； in the matter of love； she would never give
herself to anyone she did not really care for； and if such
happiness ever came to her she did not want it shorn of half its
brightness by the need of fibbing and plotting and dodging。
〃I've seen too much of that kind of thing。 Half the women I
know who've had lovers have had them for the fun of sneaking and
lying about it； but the other half have been miserable。 And I
should be miserable。〃
It was at this point that she unfolded her plan。 Why shouldn't
they marry； belong to each other openly and honourably； if for
ever so short a time； and with the definite understanding that
whenever either of them got the chance to do better he or she
should be immediately released？ The law of their country
facilitated such exchanges； and society was beginning to view
them as indulgently as the law。 As Susy talked； she warmed to
her theme and began to develop its endless possibilities。
〃We should really； in a way； help more than we should hamper
each other；〃 she ardently explained。 〃We both know the ropes so
well； what one of us didn't see the other mightin the way of
opportunities； I mean。 And then we should be a novelty as
married people。 We're both rather unusually popularwhy not be
frank！and it's such a blessing for dinner…givers to be able to
count on a couple of whom neither one is a blank。 Yes； I really
believe we should be more than twic