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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； yes。 Of course。〃 He spoke the words peremptorily；
almost as if they were an order。 〃Where were you going？〃 he
repeated。
Without answering； she turned toward the house。 He followed
her； and the laden taxi closed the procession。
〃Why are you out in such weather without an umbrella？〃 he
continued； in the same severe tone； drawing her under the
shelter of his。
〃Oh； because Junie's umbrella is in tatters； and I had to leave
her mine； as I was going away for the whole day。〃 She spoke the
words like a person in a trance。
〃For the whole day？ At this hour？ Where？〃
They were on the doorstep； and she fumbled automatically for her
key； let herself in； and led the way to the sitting…room。 It
had not been tidied up since the night before。 The children's
school books lay scattered on the table and sofa； and the empty
fireplace was grey with ashes。 She turned to Nick in the pallid
light。
〃I was going to see you；〃 she stammered； 〃I was going to follow
you to Fontainebleau； if necessary； to tell you 。。。 to prevent
you。。。。〃
He repeated in the same aggressive tone： 〃Tell me what？
Prevent what？〃
〃Tell you that there must be some other way 。。。 some decent
way 。。。 of our separating 。。。 without that horror。 that horror
of your going off with a woman 。。。。〃
He stared； and then burst into a laugh。 The blood rushed to her
face。 She had caught a familiar ring in his laugh； and it
wounded her。 What business had he； at such a time； to laugh in
the old way？
〃I'm sorry； but there is no other way； I'm afraid。 No other way
but one；〃 he corrected himself。
She raised her head sharply。 〃Well？〃
〃That you should be the woman。 Oh； my dear！〃 He had dropped
his mocking smile； and was at her side； her hands in his。 〃Oh；
my dear； don't you see that we've both been feeling the same
thing； and at the same hour？ You lay awake thinking of it all
night； didn't you？ So did I。 Whenever the clock struck； I said
to myself： 'She's hearing it too。' And I was up before
daylight； and packed my trapsfor I never want to set foot
again in that awful hotel where I've lived in hell for the last
three days。 And I swore to myself that I'd go off with a woman
by the first train I could catchand so I mean to； my dear。〃
She stood before him numb。 Yes； numb： that was the worst of
it！ The violence of the reaction had been too great； and she
could hardly understand what he was saying。 Instead； she
noticed that the tassel of the window…blind was torn off again
（oh； those children！）； and vaguely wondered if his luggage were
safe on the waiting taxi。 One heard such stories 。。。。
His voice came back to her。 〃Susy！ Listen！〃 he was entreating。
〃You must see yourself that it can't be。 We're marriedisn't
that all that matters？ Oh； I knowI've behaved like a brute：
a cursed arrogant ass！ You couldn't wish that ass a worse
kicking than I've given him！ But that's not the point； you see。
The point is that we're married 。。。。 Married 。。。。 Doesn't it
mean something to you； somethinginexorable？ It does to me。 I
didn't dream it wouldin just that way。 But all I can say is
that I suppose the people who don't feel it aren't really
married…and they'd better separate； much better。 As for us〃
Through her tears she gasped out： 〃That's what I felt 。。。
that's what I said to Streff 。。。。〃
He was upon her with a great embrace。 〃My darling！ My darling！
You have told him？〃
〃Yes；〃 she panted。 〃That's why I'm living here。〃 She paused。
〃And you've told Coral？〃
She felt his embrace relax。 He drew away a little； still
holding her； but with lowered head。
〃No 。。。 I 。。。 haven't。〃
〃Oh； Nick！ But then？〃
He caught her to him again； resentfully。 〃Wellthen what？
What do you mean？ What earthly difference does it make？〃
〃But if you've told her you were going to marry her〃 （Try as
she would； her voice was full of silver chimes。）
〃Marry her？ Marry her？〃 he echoed。 〃But how could I？ What
does marriage mean anyhow？ If it means anything at all it
meansyou！ And I can't ask Coral Hicks just to come and live
with me； can I？〃
Between crying and laughing she lay on his breast； and his hand
passed over her hair。
They were silent for a while； then he began again： 〃You said it
yourself yesterday； you know。〃
She strayed back from sunlit distances。 〃Yesterday？〃
〃Yes： that Grace Fulmer says you can't separate two people
who've been through a lot of things〃
〃Ah； been through them togetherit's not the things； you see；
it's the togetherness；〃 she interrupted。
〃The togethernessthat's it！〃 He seized on the word as if it
had just been coined to express their case； and his mind could
rest in it without farther labour。
The door…bell rang； and they started。 Through the window they
saw the taxi…driver gesticulating enquiries as to the fate of
the luggage。
〃He wants to know if he's to leave it here；〃 Susy laughed。
〃Nono！ You're to come with me；〃 her husband declared。
〃Come with you？〃 She laughed again at the absurdity of the
suggestion。
〃Of course： this very instant。 What did you suppose？ That I
was going away without you？ Run up and pack your things；〃 he
commanded。
〃My things？ My things？ But I can't leave the children！〃
He stared； between indignation and amusement。 〃Can't leave the
children？ Nonsense！ Why； you said yourself you were going to
follow me to Fontainebleau〃
She reddened again； this time a little painfully 〃I didn't know
what I was doing 。。。。 I had to find you 。。。 but I should have
come back this evening； no matter what happened。〃
〃No matter what？〃
She nodded； and met his gaze resolutely。
〃No； but really〃
〃Really； I can't leave the children till Nat and Grace come
back。 I promised I wouldn't。〃
〃Yes； but you didn't know then 。。。。 Why on earth can't their
nurse look after them？〃
〃There isn't any nurse but me。〃
〃Good Lord！〃
〃But it's only for two weeks more；〃 she pleaded。 〃Two weeks！
Do you know how long I've been without you！〃 He seized her by
both wrists； and drew them against his breast。 〃Come with me at
least for two daysSusy！〃 he entreated her。
〃Oh；〃 she cried； 〃that's the very first time you've said my
name！〃
〃Susy； Susy； thenmy SusySusy！ And you've only said mine
once； you know。〃
〃Nick！〃 she sighed； at peace； as if the one syllable were a
magic seed that hung out great branches to envelop them。
〃Well； then； Susy； be reasonable。 Come！〃
〃Reasonableoh； reasonable！〃 she sobbed through laughter。
〃Unreasonable； then！ That's even better。〃
She freed herself； and drew back gently。 〃Nick； I swore I
wouldn't leave them； and I can't。 It's not only my pro