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he developed a habit of saying over and over again： 〃Does so…
and…so speak indistinctly？ Or am I getting deaf； I wonder？〃
which wore on her nerves by its suggestion of a corresponding
mental infirmity。
These thoughts did not always trouble her。 The current of idle
activity on which they were both gliding was her native element
as well as his； and never had its tide been as swift； its waves
as buoyant。 In his relation to her； too； he was full of tact
and consideration。 She saw that he still remembered their
frightened exchange of glances after their first kiss； and the
sense of this little hidden spring of imagination in him was
sometimes enough for her thirst。
She had always had a rather masculine punctuality in keeping her
word； and after she had promised Strefford to take steps toward
a divorce she had promptly set about doing it。 A sudden
reluctance prevented her asking the advice of friends like Ellie
Vanderlyn； whom she knew to be in the thick of the same
negotiations； and all she could think of was to consult a young
American lawyer practicing in Paris； with whom she felt she
could talk the more easily because he was not from New York； and
probably unacquainted with her history。
She was so ignorant of the procedure in such matters that she
was surprised and relieved at his asking few personal questions；
but it was a shock to learn that a divorce could not be
obtained； either in New York or Paris； merely on the ground of
desertion or incompatibility。
〃I thought nowadays 。。。 if people preferred to live apart 。。。 it
could always be managed；〃 she stammered； wondering at her own
ignorance； after the many conjugal ruptures she had assisted at。
The young lawyer smiled； and coloured slightly。 His lovely
client evidently intimidated him by her grace； and still more by
her inexperience。
〃It can begenerally；〃 he admitted； 〃and especially so if 。。。
as I gather is the case 。。。 your husband is equally
anxious 。。。。〃
〃Oh； quite！〃 she exclaimed； suddenly humiliated by having to
admit it。
〃Well； thenmay I suggest that； to bring matters to a point；
the best way would be for you to write to him？〃
She recoiled slightly。 It had never occurred to her that the
lawyers would not 〃manage it〃 without her intervention。
〃Write to him 。。。 but what about？〃
〃Well； expressing your wish 。。。 to recover your freedom 。。。。
The rest； I assume；〃 said the young lawyer； 〃may be left to Mr。
Lansing。〃
She did not know exactly what he meant； and was too much
perturbed by the idea of having to communicate with Nick to
follow any other train of thought。 How could she write such a
letter？ And yet how could she confess to the lawyer that she
had not the courage to do so？ He would； of course； tell her to
go home and be reconciled。 She hesitated perplexedly。
〃Wouldn't it be better；〃 she suggested； 〃if the letter were to
come fromfrom your office？〃
He considered this politely。 〃On the whole： no。 If； as I take
it； an amicable arrangement is necessaryto secure the
requisite evidence then a line from you； suggesting an
interview； seems to me more advisable。〃
〃An interview？ Is an interview necessary？〃 She was ashamed to
show her agitation to this cautiously smiling young man； who
must wonder at her childish lack of understanding； but the break
in her voice was uncontrollable。
〃Oh； please write to himI can't！ And I can't see him！ Oh；
can't you arrange it for me？〃 she pleaded。
She saw now that her idea of a divorce had been that it was
something one went outor sent outto buy in a shop：
something concrete and portable； that Strefford's money could
pay for； and that it required no personal participation to
obtain。 What a fool the lawyer must think her！ Stiffening
herself； she rose from her seat。
〃My husband and I don't wish to see each other again 。。。。 I'm
sure it would be useless 。。。 and very painful。〃
〃You are the best judge； of course。 But in any case； a letter
from you； a friendly letter； seems wiser 。。。 considering the
apparent lack of evidence 。。。。〃
〃Very well； then； I'll write；〃 she agreed； and hurried away；
scarcely hearing his parting injunction that she should take a
copy of her letter。
That night she wrote。 At the last moment it might have been
impossible； if at the theatre little Breckenridge had not bobbed
into her box。 He was just back from Rome； where he had dined
with the Hickses （〃a bang…up showthey're really lances…you
wouldn't know them！〃）； and had met there Lansing； whom he
reported as intending to marry Coral 〃as soon as things were
settled〃。 〃You were dead right； weren't you； Susy；〃 he
snickered； 〃that night in Venice last summer； when we all
thought you were joking about their engagement？ Pity now you
chucked our surprise visit to the Hickses； and sent Streff up to
drag us back just as we were breaking in！ You remember？〃
He flung off the 〃Streff〃 airily； in the old way； but with a
tentative side…glance at his host； and Lord Altringham； leaning
toward Susy； said coldly： 〃Was Breckenridge speaking about me？
I didn't catch what he said。 Does he speak indistinctlyor am
I getting deaf； I wonder？〃
After that it seemed comparatively easy； when Strefford had
dropped her at her hotel； to go upstairs and write。 She dashed
off the date and her address； and then stopped； but suddenly she
remembered Breckenridge's snicker； and the words rushed from
her。 〃Nick dear； it was July when you left Venice； and I have
had no word from you since the note in which you said you had
gone for a few days； and that I should hear soon again。
〃You haven't written yet； and it is five months since you left
me。 That means； I suppose； that you want to take back your
freedom and give me mine。 Wouldn't it be kinder； in that case；
to tell me so？ It is worse than anything to go on as we are
now。 I don't know how to put these things but since you seem
unwilling to write to me perhaps you would prefer to send your
answer to Mr。 Frederic Spearman； the American lawyer here。 His
address is 100； Boulevard Haussmann。 I hope〃
She broke off on the last word。 Hope？ What did she hope；
either for him or for herself？ Wishes for his welfare would
sound like a mockeryand she would rather her letter should
seem bitter than unfeeling。 Above all； she wanted to get it
done。 To have to re…write even those few lines would be
torture。 So she left 〃I hope；〃 and simply added： 〃to hear
before long what you have decided。〃
She read it over； and shivered。 Not one word of the past…not
one allusion to that mysterious interweaving of their lives
which had enclosed them one in the other like the flower in its
sheath！ What place had such memories in such a letter？ She had
the feeling that she wanted to hide that other Nick away in her
own bosom； and with him the other Susy； the Susy he had once
imagined her to be 。。。。 Neit