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unusually handsome。 Perhaps it was the long dress of black
velvet which； outlined against a shaded lamp； made her strong
build seem slenderer； or perhaps the slight flush on her dusky
cheek： a bloom of womanhood hung upon her which she made no
effort to dissemble。 Indeed； it was one of her originalities
that she always gravely and courageously revealed the utmost of
whatever mood possessed her。
〃How splendid you look！〃 he said； smiling at her。
She threw her head back and gazed him straight in the eyes。
〃That's going to be my future job。〃
〃To look splendid？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And wear a crown？〃
〃And wear a crown 。。。。〃
They continued to consider each other without speaking。 Nick's
heart contracted with pity and perplexity。
〃Oh； Coralit's not decided？〃
She scrutinized him for a last penetrating moment； then she
looked away。 〃I'm never long deciding。〃
He hesitated； choking with contradictory impulses； and afraid to
formulate any； lest they should either mislead or pain her。
〃Why didn't you tell me？〃 he questioned lamely； and instantly
perceived his blunder。
She sat down； and looked up at him under brooding lasheshad he
ever noticed the thickness of her lashes before？
〃Would it have made any difference if I had told you？〃
〃Any difference？〃
〃Sit down by me；〃 she commanded。 〃I want to talk to you。 You
can say now whatever you might have said sooner。 I'm not
married yet： I'm still free。〃
〃You haven't given your answer？〃
〃It doesn't matter if I have。〃
The retort frightened him with the glimpse of what she still
expected of him； and what he was still so unable to give。
〃That means you've said yes？〃 he pursued； to gain time。
〃Yes or noit doesn't matter。 I had to say something。 What I
want is your advice。〃
〃At the eleventh hour？〃
〃Or the twelfth。〃 She paused。 〃What shall I do？〃 she
questioned； with a sudden accent of helplessness。
He looked at her as helplessly。 He could not say： 〃Ask
yourselfask your parents。〃 Her next word would sweep away
such frail hypocrisies。 Her 〃What shall I do？〃 meant 〃What are
you going to do？〃 and he knew it； and knew that she knew it。
〃I'm a bad person to give any one matrimonial advice；〃 he began；
with a strained smile； 〃but I had such a different vision for
you。〃
〃What kind of a vision？〃 She was merciless。
〃Merely what people call happiness； dear。〃
〃'People call'you see you don't believe in it yourself！ Well；
neither do Iin that form； at any rate。 〃
He considered。 〃I believe in trying for iteven if the trying's
the best of it。〃
〃Well； I've tried； and failed。 And I'm twenty…two； and I never
was young。 I suppose I haven't enough imagination。〃 She drew a
deep breath。 〃Now I want something different。〃 She appeared to
search for the word。 〃I want to beprominent；〃 she declared。
〃Prominent？〃
She reddened swarthily。 〃Oh； you smileyou think it's
ridiculous： it doesn't seem worth while to you。 That's because
you've always had all those things。 But I haven't。 I know what
father pushed up from； and I want to push up as high again
higher。 No； I haven't got much imagination。 I've always liked
Facts。 And I find I shall like the fact of being a Princess
choosing the people I associate with； and being up above all
these European grandees that father and mother bow down to；
though they think they despise them。 You can be up above these
people by just being yourself； you know how。 But I need a
platforma sky…scraper。 Father and mother slaved to give me my
education。 They thought education was the important thing； but；
since we've all three of us got mediocre minds； it has just
landed us among mediocre people。 Don't you suppose I see
through all the sham science and sham art and sham everything
we're surrounded with？ That's why I want to buy a place at the
very top； where I shall be powerful enough to get about me the
people I want； the big people； the right people； and to help
them I want to promote culture； like those Renaissance women
you're always talking about。 I want to do it for Apex City； do
you understand？ And for father and mother too。 I want all
those titles carved on my tombstone。 They're facts； anyhow！
Don't laugh at me 。。。。〃 She broke off with one of her clumsy
smiles； and moved away from him to the other end of the room。
He sat looking at her with a curious feeling of admiration。 Her
harsh positivism was like a tonic to his disenchanted mood； and
he thought： 〃What a pity！〃
Aloud he said： 〃I don't feel like laughing at you。 You're a
great woman。〃
〃Then I shall be a great Princess。〃
〃Ohbut you might have been something so much greater！〃
Her face flamed again。 〃Don't say that！〃
He stood up involuntarily； and drew near her。
〃Why not？〃
〃Because you're the only man with whom I can imagine the other
kind of greatness。〃
It moved himmoved him unexpectedly。 He got as far as saying
to himself： 〃Good God； if she were not so hideously rich〃 and
then of yielding for a moment to the persuasive vision of all
that he and she might do with those very riches which he
dreaded。 After all； there was nothing mean in her ideals they
were hard and material； in keeping with her primitive and
massive person； but they had a certain grim nobility。 And when
she spoke of 〃the other kind of greatness〃 he knew that she
understood what she was talking of； and was not merely saying
something to draw him on； to get him to commit himself。 There
was not a drop of guile in her； except that which her very
honesty distilled。
〃The other kind of greatness？〃 he repeated。
〃Well； isn't that what you said happiness was？ I wanted to be
happy 。。。 but one can't choose。〃
He went up to her。 〃No； one can't choose。 And how can anyone
give you happiness who hasn't got it himself？〃 He took her
hands； feeling how large； muscular and voluntary they were； even
as they melted in his palms。
〃My poor Coral； of what use can I ever be to you？ What you need
is to be loved。〃
She drew back and gave him one of her straight strong glances：
〃No；〃 she said gallantly； 〃but just to love。〃
PART III
XXV
IN the persistent drizzle of a Paris winter morning Susy Lansing
walked back alone from the school at which she had just
deposited the four eldest Fulmers to the little house in Passy
where； for the last two months； she had been living with them。
She had on ready…made boots； an old waterproof and a last year's
hat； but none of these facts disturbed her； though she took no
particular pride in them。 The truth was that she was too busy
to think much about them。 Since she had assumed the charge of
the Fulmer children； in the absence of both their parents in
Italy； she had had to pass through such an arduous
apprenticeship of motherhood that every moment of her wakin