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immediately occur to you。 At least there was a decent interval
of doubt 。。。。〃 She stood up； laughing again； and began to
wander about the room。 In the mirror above the mantel she
caught sight of her flushed angry face； and of Mrs。 Vanderlyn's
disconcerted stare。 She turned toward her friend。
〃I suppose everybody else will think it if you do； so perhaps
I'd better explain。〃 She paused； and drew a quick breath。
〃Nick and I mean to parthave parted； in fact。 He's decided
that the whole thing was a mistake。 He will probably； marry
again soonand so shall I。〃
She flung the avowal out breathlessly； in her nervous dread of
letting Ellie Vanderlyn think for an instant longer that any
other explanation was conceivable。 She had not meant to be so
explicit； but once the words were spoken she was not altogether
sorry。 Of course people would soon begin to wonder why she was
again straying about the world alone； and since it was by Nick's
choice； why should she not say so？ Remembering the burning
anguish of those last hours in Venice she asked herself what
possible consideration she owed to the man who had so humbled
her。
Ellie Vanderlyn glanced at her in astonishment。 〃You？ You and
Nickare going to part？〃 A light appeared to dawn on her。
〃Ahthen that's why he sent me back my pin； I suppose？〃
〃Your pin？〃 Susy wondered； not at once remembering。
〃The poor little scarf…pin I gave him before I left Venice。 He
sent it back almost at once； with the oddest notejust： 'I
haven't earned it； really。' I couldn't think why he didn't care
for the pin。 But； now I suppose it was because you and he had
quarrelled； though really； even so； I can't see why he should
bear me a grudge 。。。。〃
Susy's quick blood surged up。 Nick had sent back the pin…the
fatal pin！ And she； Susy； had kept the braceletlocked it up
out of sight； shrunk away from the little packet whenever her
hand touched it in packing or unpackingbut never thought of
returning it； no； not once！ Which of the two； she wondered； had
been right？ Was it not an indirect slight to her that Nick
should fling back the gift to poor uncomprehending Ellie？ Or
was it not rather another proof of his finer moral
sensitiveness！ 。。。 And how could one tell； in their bewildering
world； 〃It was not because we've quarrelled； we haven't
quarrelled；〃 she said slowly； moved by the sudden desire to
defend her privacy and Nick's； to screen from every eye their
last bitter hour together。 〃We've simply decided that our
experiment was impossible…for two paupers。〃
〃Ah； wellof course we all felt that at the time。 And now
somebody else wants to marry you！ And it's your trousseau you
were choosing that cloak for？〃 Ellie cried in incredulous
rapture； then she flung her arms about Susy's shrinking
shoulders。 〃You lucky lucky girl！ You clever clever darling！
But who on earth can he be？〃
And it was then that Susy； for the first time； had pronounced
the name of Lord Altringham。
〃StreffStreff？ Our dear old Streff； You mean to say he wants
to marry you？〃 As the news took possession of her mind Ellie
became dithyrambic。 〃But； my dearest； what a miracle of luck！
Of course I always knew he was awfully gone on you： Fred
Davenant used to say so； I remember 。。。 and even Nelson； who's
so stupid about such things； noticed it in Venice 。。。。 But then
it was so different。 No one could possibly have thought of
marrying him then； whereas now of course every woman is trying
for him。 Oh； Susy； whatever you do； don't miss your chance！
You can't conceive of the wicked plotting and intriguing there
will be to get himon all sides； and even where one least
suspects it。 You don't know what horrors women will do…and
even girls！〃 A shudder ran through her at the thought； and she
caught Susy's wrists in vehement fingers。 〃But I can't think；
my dear； why you don't announce your engagement at once。 People
are beginning to do it； I assure youit's so much safer！〃
Susy looked at her； wondering。 Not a word of sympathy for the
ruin of her brief bliss； not even a gleam of curiosity as to its
cause！ No doubt Ellie Vanderlyn； like all Susy's other friends；
had long since 〃discounted〃 the brevity of her dream； and
perhaps planned a sequel to it before she herself had seen the
glory fading。 She and Nick had spent the greater part of their
few weeks together under Ellie Vanderlyn's roof； but to Ellie；
obviously； the fact meant no more than her own escapade； at the
same moment； with young Davenant's supplanterthe 〃bounder〃
whom Strefford had never named。 Her one thought for her friend
was that Susy should at last secure her prizeher incredible
prize。 And therein at any rate Ellie showed the kind of cold
disinterestedness that raised her above the smiling perfidy of
the majority of her kind。 At least her advice was sincere； and
perhaps it was wise。 Why should Susy not let every one know
that she meant to marry Strefford as soon as the 〃formalities〃
were fulfilled？
She did not immediately answer Mrs。 Vanderlyn's question； and
the latter； repeating it； added impatiently： 〃I don't
understand you； if Nick agrees…〃
〃Oh； he agrees；〃 said Susy。
〃Then what more do you want！ Oh； Susy； if you'd only follow my
example！〃
〃Your example？〃 Susy paused； weighed the word； was struck by
something embarrassed； arch yet half…apologetic in her friend's
expression。 〃Your example？〃 she repeated。 〃Why； Ellie； what on
earth do you mean？ Not that you're going to part from poor
Nelson？〃
Mrs。 Vanderlyn met her reproachful gaze with a crystalline
glance。 〃I don't want to； heaven knowspoor dear Nelson！ I
assure you I simply hate it。 He's always such an angel to
Clarissa 。。。 and then we're used to each other。 But what in the
world am I to do？ Algie's so rich； so appallingly rich； that I
have to be perpetually on the watch to keep other women away
from himand it's too exhausting 。。。。〃
〃Algie？〃
Mrs。 Vanderlyn's lovely eyebrows rose。 〃Algie： Algie
Bockheimer。 Didn't you know； I think he said you've dined with
his parents。 Nobody else in the world is as rich as the
Bockheimers； and Algie's their only child。 Yes； it was with
him 。。。 with him I was so dreadfully happy last spring 。。。 and
now I'm in mortal terror of losing him。 And I do assure you
there's no other way of keeping them； when they're as hideously
rich as that！〃
Susy rose to her feet。 A little shudder ran over her。 She
remembered； now； having seen Algie Bockheimer at one of his
parents' first entertainments； in their newly…inaugurated marble
halls in Fifth Avenue。 She recalled his too faultless clothes
and his small glossy furtive countenance。 She looked at Ellie
Vanderlyn with sudden scorn。
〃I think you're abominable；〃 she exclaimed。
The other's perfect little face collapsed。 〃A…bo…minable？
A…bo…mi…nable？ Susy！〃
〃Yes 。。。 with Nelson 。。。 and Clariss