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months earlier； had filled so many trunks to bursting。 Other
ladies； flocking there from all points of the globe for the same
purpose； disputed with her the Louis XVI suites of the Nouveau
Luxe； the pink…candled tables in the restaurant； the hours for
trying…on at the dressmakers'； and just because they were so
many； and all feverishly fighting to get the same things at the
same time； they were all excited； happy and at ease。 It was the
most momentous period of the year： the height of the 〃dress
makers' season。〃
Mrs。 Vanderlyn had run across Susy Lansing at one of the Rue de
la Paix openings； where rows of ladies wan with heat and emotion
sat for hours in rapt attention while spectral apparitions in
incredible raiment tottered endlessly past them on aching feet。
Distracted from the regal splendours of a chinchilla cloak by
the sense that another lady was also examining it； Mrs。
Vanderlyn turned in surprise at sight of Susy； whose head was
critically bent above the fur。
〃Susy！ I'd no idea you were here！ I saw in the papers that you
were with the Gillows。〃 The customary embraces followed； then
Mrs。 Vanderlyn； her eyes pursuing the matchless cloak as it
disappeared down a vista of receding mannequins； interrogated
sharply： 〃Are you shopping for Ursula？ If you mean to order
that cloak for her I'd rather know。〃
Susy smiled； and paused a moment before answering。 During the
pause she took in all the exquisite details of Ellie Vanderlyn's
perpetually youthful person； from the plumed crown of her head
to the perfect arch of her patent…leather shoes。 At last she
said quietly： 〃Noto…day I'm shopping for myself。〃
〃Yourself？ Yourself？〃 Mrs。 Vanderlyn echoed with a stare of
incredulity。
〃Yes； just for a change；〃 Susy serenely acknowledged。
〃But the cloakI meant the chinchilla cloak 。。。 the one with
the ermine lining 。。。。〃
〃Yes； it is awfully good； isn't it？ But I mean to look
elsewhere before I decide。〃
Ah； how often she had heard her friends use that phrase； and how
amusing it was； now； to see Ellie's amazement as she heard it
tossed off in her own tone of contemptuous satiety！ Susy was
becoming more and more dependent on such diversions； without
them her days； crowded as they were； would nevertheless have
dragged by heavily。 But it still amused her to go to the big
dressmakers'； watch the mannequins sweep by； and be seen by her
friends superciliously examining all the most expensive dresses
in the procession。 She knew the rumour was abroad that she and
Nick were to be divorced； and that Lord Altringham was 〃devoted〃
to her。 She neither confirmed nor denied the report： she just
let herself be luxuriously carried forward on its easy tide。
But although it was now three months since Nick had left the
Palazzo Vanderlyn she had not yet written to him…nor he to her。
Meanwhile； in spite of all that she packed into them； the days
passed more and more slowly； and the excitements she had counted
on no longer excited her。 Strefford was hers： she knew that he
would marry her as soon as she was free。 They had been together
at Ruan for ten days； and after that she had motored south with
him； stopping on the way to see Altringham； from which； at the
moment； his mourning relatives were absent。
At Altringham they had parted； and after one or two more visits
in England she had come back to Paris； where he was now about to
join her。 After her few hours at Altringham she had understood
that he would wait for her as long as was necessary： the fear
of the 〃other women〃 had ceased to trouble her。 But； perhaps
for that very reason； the future seemed less exciting than she
had expected。 Sometimes she thought it was the sight of that
great house which had overwhelmed her： it was too vast； too
venerable； too like a huge monument built of ancient territorial
traditions and obligations。 Perhaps it had been lived in for
too long by too many serious…minded and conscientious women：
somehow she could not picture it invaded by bridge and debts and
adultery。 And yet that was what would have to be； of course 。。。
she could hardly picture either Strefford or herself continuing
there the life of heavy county responsibilities； dull parties；
laborious duties； weekly church…going； and presiding over local
committees 。。。。 What a pity they couldn't sell it and have a
little house on the Thames！
Nevertheless she was not sorry to let it be known that
Altringham was hers when she chose to take it。 At times she
wondered whether Nick knew 。。。 whether rumours had reached him。
If they had； he had only his own letter to thank for it。 He had
told her what course to pursue； and she was pursuing it。
For a moment the meeting with Ellie Vanderlyn had been a shock
to her； she had hoped never to see Ellie again。 But now that
they were actually face to face Susy perceived how dulled her
sensibilities were。 In a few moments she had grown used to
Ellie； as she was growing used to everybody and to everything in
the old life she had returned to。 What was the use of making
such a fuss about things？ She and Mrs。 Vanderlyn left the
dress…maker's together； and after an absorbing session at a new
milliner's were now taking tea in Ellie's drawing…room at the
Nouveau Luxe。
Ellie； with her spoiled child's persistency； had come back to
the question of the chinchilla cloak。 It was the only one she
had seen that she fancied in the very least； and as she hadn't a
decent fur garment left to her name she was naturally in
somewhat of a hurry 。。。 but； of course； if Susy had been
choosing that model for a friend 。。。。
Susy； leaning back against her cushions； examined through half…
closed lids Mrs。 Vanderlyn's small delicately…restored
countenance； which wore the same expression of childish
eagerness as when she discoursed of the young Davenant of the
moment。 Once again Susy remarked that； in Ellie's agitated
existence； every interest appeared to be on exactly the same
plane。
〃The poor shivering dear；〃 she answered laughing； 〃of course it
shall have its nice warm winter cloak； and I'll choose another
one instead。〃
〃Oh； you darling； you！ If you would！ Of course； whoever you
were ordering it for need never know 。。。。〃
〃Ah； you can't comfort yourself with that； I'm afraid。 I've
already told you that I was ordering it for myself。〃 Susy
paused to savour to the full Ellie's look of blank bewilderment；
then her amusement was checked by an indefinable change in her
friend's expression。
〃Oh； dearestseriously？ I didn't know there was someone 。。。。〃
Susy flushed to the forehead。 A horror of humiliation
overwhelmed her。 That Ellie should dare to think that of her
that anyone should dare to！
〃Someone buying chinchilla cloaks for me？ Thanks！〃 she flared
out。 〃I suppose I ought to be glad that the idea didn't
immediately occur to you。 At least there was a decent