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intermittent interest in art。 He really liked picture shows as
much as the races； if one could be sure of seeing as many people
there。 With Nick how different it would have been！ Nick hated
openings and varnishing days； and worldly aesthetics in general；
he would have waited till the tide of fashion had ebbed； and
slipped off with Susy to see the pictures some morning when they
were sure to have the place to themselves。
But Susy divined that there was another reason for Strefford's
suggestion。 She had never yet shown herself with him publicly；
among their own group of people： now he had determined that she
should do so； and she knew why。 She had humbled his pride； he
had understood； and forgiven her。 But she still continued to
treat him as she had always treated the Strefford of old；
Charlie Strefford； dear old negligible impecunious Streff； and
he wanted to show her； ever so casually and adroitly； that the
man who had asked her to marry him was no longer Strefford； but
Lord Altringham。
At the very threshold； his Ambassador's greeting marked the
difference： it was followed； wherever they turned； by
ejaculations of welcome from the rulers of the world they moved
in。 Everybody rich enough or titled enough； or clever enough or
stupid enough； to have forced a way into the social citadel； was
there； waving and flag…flying from the battlements； and to all
of them Lord Altringham had become a marked figure。 During
their slow progress through the dense mass of important people
who made the approach to the pictures so well worth fighting
for； he never left Susy's side； or failed to make her feel
herself a part of his triumphal advance。 She heard her name
mentioned： 〃Lansinga Mrs。 Lansingan American 。。。 Susy
Lansing？ Yes； of course 。。。。 You remember her？ At Newport； At
St。 Moritz？ Exactly。。。。 Divorced already？ They say so 。。。
Susy darling！ I'd no idea you were here 。。。 and Lord
Altringham！ You've forgotten me； I know； Lord Altringham 。。。。
Yes； last year； in Cairo 。。。 or at Newport 。。。 or in Scotland
。。。 Susy； dearest； when will you bring Lord Altringham to dine？
Any night that you and he are free I'll arrange to be 。。。。〃
〃You and he〃： they were 〃you and he〃 already！
〃Ah； there's one of themof my great…grandmothers；〃 Strefford
explained； giving a last push that drew him and Susy to the
front rank； before a tall isolated portrait which； by sheer
majesty of presentment； sat in its great carved golden frame as
on a throne above the other pictures。
Susy read on the scroll beneath it： 〃The Hon'ble Diana Lefanu；
fifteenth Countess of Altringham〃and heard Strefford say： 〃Do
you remember？ It hangs where you noticed the empty space above
the mantel…piece； in the Vandyke room。 They say Reynolds
stipulated that it should be put with the Vandykes。〃
She had never before heard him speak of his possessions； whether
ancestral or merely material； in just that full and satisfied
tone of voice： the rich man's voice。 She saw that he was
already feeling the influence of his surroundings； that he was
glad the portrait of a Countess of Altringham should occupy the
central place in the principal room of the exhibition； that the
crowd about it should be denser there than before any of the
other pictures； and that he should be standing there with Susy；
letting her feel； and letting all the people about them guess；
that the day she chose she could wear the same name as his
pictured ancestress。
On the way back to her hotel； Strefford made no farther allusion
to their future； they chatted like old comrades in their
respective corners of the taxi。 But as the carriage stopped at
her door he said： 〃I must go back to England the day after to…
morrow； worse luck！ Why not dine with me to…night at the
Nouveau Luxe？ I've got to have the Ambassador and Lady Ascot；
with their youngest girl and my old Dunes aunt； the Dowager
Duchess； who's over here hiding from her creditors； but I'll try
to get two or three amusing men to leaven the lump。 We might go
on to a boite afterward； if you're bored。 Unless the dancing
amuses you more 。。。。〃
She understood that he had decided to hasten his departure
rather than linger on in uncertainty； she also remembered having
heard the Ascots' youngest daughter； Lady Joan Senechal； spoken
of as one of the prettiest girls of the season； and she recalled
the almost exaggerated warmth of the Ambassador's greeting at
the private view。
〃Of course I'll come； Streff dear！〃 she cried； with an effort at
gaiety that sounded successful to her own strained ears； and
reflected itself in the sudden lighting up of his face。
She waved a good…bye from the step； saying to herself； as she
looked after him： 〃He'll drive me home to…night； and I shall
say 'yes'； and then he'll kiss me again。 But the next time it
won't be nearly as disagreeable。〃
She turned into the hotel； glanced automatically at the empty
pigeon…hole for letters under her key…hook； and mounted the
stairs following the same train of images。 〃Yes； I shall say
'yes' to…night；〃 she repeated firmly； her hand on the door of
her room。 〃That is； unless； they've brought up a letter 。。。。〃
She never re…entered the hotel without imagining that the letter
she had not found below had already been brought up。
Opening the door； she turned on the light and sprang to the
table on which her correspondence sometimes awaited her。
There was no letter； but the morning papers； still unread； lay
at hand； and glancing listlessly down the column which
chronicles the doings of society； she read：
〃After an extended cruise in the AEgean and the Black Sea on
their steam…yacht Ibis； Mr。 and Mrs。 Mortimer Hicks and their
daughter are established at the Nouveau Luxe in Rome。 They have
lately had the honour of entertaining at dinner the Reigning
Prince of Teutoburger…Waldhain and his mother the Princess
Dowager； with their suite。 Among those invited to meet their
Serene Highnesses were the French and Spanish Ambassadors； the
Duchesse de Vichy； Prince and Princess Bagnidilucca； Lady
Penelope Pantiles〃 Susy's eye flew impatiently on over the
long list of titles〃and Mr。 Nicholas Lansing of New York； who
has been cruising with Mr。 and Mrs。 Hicks on the Ibis for the
last few months。〃
XX
THE Mortimer Hickses were in Rome； not； as they would in former
times have been； in one of the antiquated hostelries of the
Piazza di Spagna or the Porta del Popolo； where of old they had
so gaily defied fever and nourished themselves on local colour；
but spread out； with all the ostentation of philistine
millionaires； under the piano nobile ceilings of one of the
high…perched 〃Palaces；〃 where； as Mrs。 Hicks shamelessly
declared； they could 〃rely on the plumbing；〃 and 〃have the
privilege of over…looking the Queen Mother's Gardens。〃
It was that speech； uttered with beaming aplomb at a dinner…
table surroun