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wouldn't leave them； and I can't。 It's not only my promise to
their motherit's what they've been to me themselves。 You
don't； know 。。。 You can't imagine the things they've taught me。
They're awfully naughty at times； because they're so clever； but
when they're good they're the wisest people I know。〃 She
paused； and a sudden inspiration illuminated her。 〃But why
shouldn't we take them with us？〃 she exclaimed。
Her husband's arms fell away from her； and he stood dumfounded。
〃Take them with us？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃All five of them？〃
〃Of courseI couldn't possibly separate them。 And Junie and
Nat will help us to look after the young ones。〃
〃Help us！〃 he groaned。
〃Oh； you'll see； they won't bother you。 Just leave it to me；
I'll manage〃 The word stopped her short； and an agony of
crimson suffused her from brow to throat。 Their eyes met； and
without a word he stooped and laid his lips gently on the stain
of red on her neck。
〃Nick；〃 she breathed； her hands in his。
〃But those children〃
Instead of answering； she questioned： 〃Where are we going？〃
His face lit up。
〃Anywhere； dearest； that you choose。〃
〃WellI choose Fontainebleau！〃 she exulted。
〃So do I！ But we can't take all those children to an hotel at
Fontainebleau； can we？〃 he questioned weakly。 〃You see； dear；
there's the mere expense of it〃
Her eyes were already travelling far ahead of him。 〃The expense
won't amount to much。 I've just remembered that Angele； the
bonne； has a sister who is cook there in a nice old…fashioned
pension which must be almost empty at this time of year。 I'm
sure I can maarrange easily；〃 she hurried on； nearly tripping
again over the fatal word。 〃And just think of the treat it will
be to them！ This is Friday； and I can get them let off from
their afternoon classes； and keep them in the country till
Monday。 Poor darlings； they haven't been out of Paris for
months！ And I daresay the change will cure Geordie's cough
Geordie's the youngest；〃 she explained； surprised to find
herself； even in the rapture of reunion； so absorbed in the
welfare of the Fulmers。
She was conscious that her husband was surprised also； but
instead of prolonging the argument he simply questioned： 〃Was
Geordie the chap you had in your arms when you opened the front
door the night before last？〃
She echoed： 〃I opened the front door the night before last？〃
〃To a boy with a parcel。〃
〃Oh；〃 she sobbed； 〃you were there？ You were watching？〃
He held her to him； and the currents flowed between them warm
and full as on the night of their moon over Como。
In a trice； after that； she had the matter in hand and her
forces marshalled。 The taxi was paid； Nick's luggage deposited
in the vestibule； and the children； just piling down to
breakfast； were summoned in to hear the news。
It was apparent that； seasoned to surprises as they were； Nick's
presence took them aback。 But when； between laughter and
embraces； his identity； and his right to be where he was； had
been made clear to them； Junie dismissed the matter by asking
him in her practical way： 〃Then I suppose we may talk about you
to Susy now？〃and thereafter all five addressed themselves to
the vision of their imminent holiday。
》From that moment the little house became the centre of a
whirlwind。 Treats so unforeseen； and of such magnitude； were
rare in the young Fulmers' experience； and had it not been for
Junie's steadying influence Susy's charges would have got out of
hand。 But young Nat； appealed to by Nick on the ground of their
common manhood； was induced to forego celebrating the event on
his motor horn （the very same which had tortured the New
Hampshire echoes）； and to assert his authority over his juniors；
and finally a plan began to emerge from the chaos； and each
child to fit into it like a bit of a picture puzzle。
Susy； riding the whirlwind with her usual firmness； nevertheless
felt an undercurrent of anxiety。 There had been no time as yet；
between her and Nick； to revert to money matters； and where
there was so little money it could not； obviously； much matter。
But that was the more reason for being secretly aghast at her
intrepid resolve not to separate herself from her charges。 A
three days' honey…moon with five children in the party…and
children with the Fulmer appetitecould not but be a costly
business； and while she settled details； packed them off to
school； and routed out such nondescript receptacles as the house
contained in the way of luggage； her thoughts remained fixed on
the familiar financial problem。
Yesit was cruel to have it rear its hated head； even through
the bursting boughs of her new spring； but there it was； the
perpetual serpent in her Eden； to be bribed； fed； sent to sleep
with such scraps as she could beg； borrow or steal for it。 And
she supposed it was the price that fate meant her to pay for her
blessedness； and was surer than ever that the blessedness was
worth it。 Only； how was she to compound the business with her
new principles？
With the children's things to pack； luncheon to be got ready；
and the Fontainebleau pension to be telephoned to； there was
little time to waste on moral casuistry； and Susy asked herself
with a certain irony if the chronic lack of time to deal with
money difficulties had not been the chief cause of her previous
lapses。 There was no time to deal with this question either； no
time； in short； to do anything but rush forward on a great gale
of plans and preparations； in the course of which she whirled
Nick forth to buy some charcuterie for luncheon； and telephone
to Fontainebleau。
Once he was goneand after watching him safely round the
cornershe too got into her wraps； and transferring a small
packet from her dressing…case to her pocket； hastened out in a
different direction。
XXX
IT took two brimming taxi…cabs to carry the Nicholas Lansings to
the station on their second honey…moon。 In the first were Nick；
Susy and the luggage of the whole party （little Nat's motor horn
included； as a last concession； and because he had hitherto
forborne to play on it）； and in the second； the five Fulmers；
the bonne； who at the eleventh hour had refused to be left； a
cage…full of canaries； and a foundling kitten who had murderous
designs on them； all of which had to be taken because； if the
bonne came； there would be nobody left to look after them。
At the corner Susy tore herself from Nick's arms and held up the
procession while she ran back to the second taxi to make sure
that the bonne had brought the house…key。 It was found of
course that she hadn't but that Junie had； whereupon the caravan
got under way again； and reached the station just as the train
was starting； and there； by some miracle of good nature on the
part of the guard； they were all packed together into an empty
compartmentno doubt； as