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being in such a place； forgot to wonder whose house she was in；
or whose was the sleepy child in her arms。 For an instant she
stood out from the blackness behind her； and through the veil of
the winter night； a thing apart； an unconditioned vision； the
eternal image of the woman and the child； and in that instant
everything within him was changed and renewed。 His eyes were
still absorbing her； finding again the familiar curves of her
light body； noting the thinness of the lifted arm that upheld
the little boy； the droop of the shoulder he weighed on； the
brooding way in which her cheek leaned to his even while she
looked away； then she drew back； the door closed； and the
street…lamp again shone on blankness。
〃But she's mine！〃 Nick cried； in a fierce triumph of
recovery 。。。
His eyes were so full of her that he shut them to hold in the
crowding vision。
It remained with him； at first； as a complete picture； then
gradually it broke up into its component parts； the child
vanished； the strange house vanished； and Susy alone stood
before him； his own Susy； only his Susy； yet changed； worn；
temperedolder； evenwith sharper shadows under the cheek…
bones； the brows drawn； the joint of the slim wrist more
prominent。 It was not thus that his memory had evoked her； and
he recalled； with a remorseful pang； the fact that something in
her look； her dress； her tired and drooping attitude； suggested
poverty； dependence； seemed to make her after all a part of the
shabby house in which； at first sight； her presence had seemed
so incongruous。
〃But she looks poor！〃 he thought； his heart tightening。 And
instantly it occurred to him that these must be the Fulmer
children whom she was living with while their parents travelled
in Italy。 Rumours of Nat Fulmer's sudden ascension had reached
him； and he had heard that the couple had lately been seen in
Naples and Palermo。 No one had mentioned Susy's name in
connection with them； and he could hardly tell why he had
arrived at this conclusion； except perhaps because it seemed
natural that； if Susy were in trouble； she should turn to her
old friend Grace。
But why in trouble？ What trouble？ What could have happened to
check her triumphant career？
〃That's what I mean to find out！〃 he exclaimed。
His heart was beating with a tumult of new hopes and old
memories。 The sight of his wife； so remote in mien and manner
from the world in which he had imagined her to be re…absorbed；
changed in a flash his own relation to life； and flung a mist of
unreality over all that he had been trying to think most solid
and tangible。 Nothing now was substantial to him but the stones
of the street in which he stood； the front of the house which
hid her； the bell…handle he already felt in his grasp。 He
started forward； and was halfway to the threshold when a private
motor turned the corner； the twin glitter of its lamps carpeting
the wet street with gold to Susy's door。
Lansing drew back into the shadow as the motor swept up to the
house。 A man jumped out； and the light fell on Strefford's
shambling figure； its lazy disjointed movements so unmistakably
the same under his fur coat； and in the new setting of
prosperity。
Lansing stood motionless； staring at the door。 Strefford rang；
and waited。 Would Susy appear again？ Perhaps she had done so
before only because she had been on the watch 。。。。
But no： after a slight delay a bonne appeared the breathless
maid…of…all…work of a busy householdand at once effaced
herself； letting the visitor in。 Lansing was sure that not a
word passed between the two； of enquiry on Lord Altringham's
part； or of acquiescence on the servant's。 There could be no
doubt that he was expected。
The door closed on him； and a light appeared behind the blind of
the adjoining window。 The maid had shown the visitor into the
sitting…room and lit the lamp。 Upstairs； meanwhile； Susy was no
doubt running skilful fingers through her tumbled hair and
daubing her pale lips with red。 Ah； how Lansing knew every
movement of that familiar rite； even to the pucker of the brow
and the pouting thrust…out of the lower lip！ He was seized with
a sense of physical sickness as the succession of remembered
gestures pressed upon his eyes 。。。。 And the other man？ The
other man； inside the house； was perhaps at that very instant
smiling over the remembrance of the same scene！
At the thought； Lansing plunged away into the night。
XXVII
SUSY and Lord Altringham sat in the little drawing…room； divided
from each other by a table carrying a smoky lamp and heaped with
tattered school…books。
In another half hour the bonne； despatched to fetch the children
from their classes； would be back with her flock； and at any
moment Geordie's imperious cries might summon his slave up to
the nursery。 In the scant time allotted them； the two sat； and
visibly wondered what to say。
Strefford； on entering； had glanced about the dreary room； with
its piano laden with tattered music； the children's toys
littering the lame sofa； the bunches of dyed grass and impaled
butterflies flanking the cast…bronze clock。 Then he had turned
to Susy and asked simply： 〃Why on earth are you here？〃
She had not tried to explain； from the first； she had understood
the impossibility of doing so。 And she would not betray her
secret longing to return to Nick； now that she knew that Nick
had taken definite steps for his release。 In dread lest
Strefford should have heard of this； and should announce it to
her； coupling it with the news of Nick's projected marriage； and
lest； hearing her fears thus substantiated； she should lose her
self…control； she had preferred to say； in a voice that she
tried to make indifferent： 〃The 'proceedings；' or whatever the
lawyers call them； have begun。 While they're going on I like to
stay quite by myself 。。。。 I don't know why 。。。。〃
Strefford； at that； had looked at her keenly。 〃Ah；〃 he
murmured； and his lips were twisted into their old mocking
smile。 〃Speaking of proceedings；〃 he went on carelessly； 〃what
stage have Ellie's reached； I wonder？ I saw her and Vanderlyn
and Bockheimer all lunching cheerfully together to…day at
Larue's。〃
The blood rushed to Susy's forehead。 She remembered her tragic
evening with Nelson Vanderlyn； only two months earlier； and
thought to herself。 〃In time； then； I suppose； Nick and I 。。。。
Aloud she said： 〃I can't imagine how Nelson and Ellie can ever
want to see each other again。 And in a restaurant； of all
places！〃
Strefford continued to smile。 〃My dear； you're incorrigibly
old…fashioned。 Why should two people who've done each other the
best turn they could by getting out of each other's way at the
right moment behave like sworn enemies ever afterward？ It's too
absurd； the humbug's too flagrant。 Whatever our generation has
failed to do； it's got rid of