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balance of her purpose。 Poor Junie would have to oversleep
herself on Sunday； that was all。
Susy stole into the passage； opened a door； and cast her light
on the girl's face。
〃Junie！ Dearest Junie； you must wake up！〃
Junie lay in the abandonment of youthful sleep； but at the sound
of her name she sat up with the promptness of a grown person on
whom domestic burdens have long weighed。
〃Which one of them is it？〃 she asked； one foot already out of
bed。
〃Oh； Junie dear； no 。。。 it's nothing wrong with the children 。。。
or with anybody；〃 Susy stammered； on her knees by the bed。
In the candlelight； she saw Junie's anxious brow darken
reproachfully。
〃Oh； Susy； then why？ I was just dreaming we were all driving
about Rome in a great big motor…car with father and mother！〃
〃I'm so sorry； dear。 What a lovely dream！ I'm a brute to have
interrupted it〃
She felt the little girl's awakening scrutiny。 〃If there's
nothing wrong with anybody； why are you crying； Susy？ Is it you
there's something wrong with？ What has happened？〃
〃Am I crying？〃 Susy rose from her knees and sat down on the
counterpane。 〃Yes； it is me。 And I had to disturb you。〃
〃Oh； Susy； darling； what is it？〃 Junie's arms were about her in
a flash； and Susy grasped them in burning fingers。
〃Junie； listen！ I've got to go away at once to leave you all
for the whole day。 I may not be back till late this evening；
late to…night； I can't tell。 I promised your mother I'd never
leave you； but I've got toI've got to。〃
Junie considered her agitated face with fully awakened eyes。
〃Oh； I won't tell； you know； you old brick； 〃 she said with
simplicity。
Susy hugged her。 〃Junie； Junie； you darling！ But that wasn't
what I meant。 Of course you may tellyou must tell。 I shall
write to your mother myself。 But what worries me is the idea of
having to go away away from Parisfor the whole day； with
Geordie still coughing a little； and no one but that silly
Angele to stay with him while you're outand no one but you to
take yourself and the others to school。 But Junie； Junie； I've
got to do it！〃 she sobbed out； clutching the child tighter。
Junie Fulmer； with her strangely mature perception of the case；
and seemingly of every case that fate might call on her to deal
with； sat for a moment motionless in Susy's hold。 Then she
freed her wrists with an adroit twist； and leaning back against
the pillows said judiciously： 〃You'll never in the world bring
up a family of your own if you take on like this over other
people's children。〃
Through all her turmoil of spirit the observation drew a laugh
from Susy。 〃Oh； a family of my ownI don't deserve one； the
way I'm behaving to your〃
Junie still considered her。 〃My dear； a change will do you
good： you need it；〃 she pronounced。
Susy rose with a laughing sigh。 〃I'm not at all sure it will！
But I've got to have it； all the same。 Only I do feel
anxiousand I can't even leave you my address！〃
Junie still seemed to examine the case。
〃Can't you even tell me where you're going？〃 she ventured； as if
not quite sure of the delicacy of asking。
〃Wellno； I don't think I can； not till I get back。 Besides；
even if I could it wouldn't be much use； because I couldn't give
you my address there。 I don't know what it will be。〃
〃But what does it matter； if you're coming back to…night？〃
〃Of course I'm coming back！ How could you possibly imagine I
should think of leaving you for more than a day？〃
〃Oh； I shouldn't be afraidnot much； that is； with the poker；
and Nat's water…pistol；〃 emended Junie； still judicious。
Susy again enfolded her vehemently； and then turned to more
practical matters。 She explained that she wished if possible to
catch an eight…thirty train from the Gare de Lyon； and that
there was not a moment to lose if the children were to be
dressed and fed； and full instructions written out for Junie and
Angele； before she rushed for the underground。
While she bathed Geordie； and then hurried into her own clothes；
she could not help wondering at her own extreme solicitude for
her charges。 She remembered； with a pang； how often she had
deserted Clarissa Vanderlyn for the whole day； and even for two
or three in successionpoor little Clarissa； whom she knew to
be so unprotected； so exposed to evil influences。 She had been
too much absorbed in her own greedy bliss to be more than
intermittently aware of the child； but now； she felt； no sorrow
however ravaging； no happiness however absorbing； would ever
again isolate her from her kind。
And then these children were so different！ The exquisite
Clarissa was already the predestined victim of her surroundings：
her budding soul was divided from Susy's by the same barrier of
incomprehension that separated the latter from Mrs。 Vanderlyn。
Clarissa had nothing to teach Susy but the horror of her own
hard little appetites； whereas the company of the noisy
argumentative Fulmers had been a school of wisdom and
abnegation。
As she applied the brush to Geordie's shining head and the
handkerchief to his snuffling nose； the sense of what she owed
him was so borne in on Susy that she interrupted the process to
catch him to her bosom。
〃I'll have such a story to tell you when I get back to…night； if
you'll promise me to be good all day；〃 she bargained with him；
and Geordie； always astute； bargained back： 〃Before I promise；
I'd like to know what story。〃
At length all was in order。 Junie had been enlightened； and
Angele stunned； by the minuteness of Susy's instructions； and
the latter； waterproofed and stoutly shod； descended the
doorstep； and paused to wave at the pyramid of heads yearning to
her from an upper window。
It was hardly light； and still raining； when she turned into the
dismal street。 As usual； it was empty； but at the corner she
perceived a hesitating taxi； with luggage piled beside the
driver。 Perhaps it was some early traveller； just arriving； who
would release the carriage in time for her to catch it； and thus
avoid the walk to the metro； and the subsequent strap…hanging；
for it was the work…people's hour。 Susy raced toward the
vehicle； which； overcoming its hesitation； was beginning to move
in her direction。 Observing this； she stopped to see where it
would discharge its load。 Thereupon the taxi stopped also； and
the load discharged itself in front of her in the shape of Nick
Lansing。
The two stood staring at each other through the rain till Nick
broke out： 〃Where are you going？ I came to get you。〃
〃To get me？ To get me？〃 she repeated。 Beside the driver she
had suddenly remarked the old suit…case from which her husband
had obliged her to extract Strefford's cigars as they were
leaving Como； and everything that had happened since seemed to
fall away and vanish in the pang and rapture of that memory。
〃To get you；