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with us； and when I felt I couldn't leave them； and couldn't
leave you either； I remembered the bracelet； and I sent you off
to telephone while I rushed round the corner to a little
jeweller's where I'd been before； and pawned it so that you
shouldn't have to pay for the children 。。。。 But now； darling；
you see； if you've got all that money； I can get it out of pawn
at once； can't I； and send it back to her？〃
She flung her arms about him； and he held her fast； wondering if
the tears he felt were hers or his。 Still he did not speak； but
as he clasped her close she added； with an irrepressible flash
of her old irony： 〃Not that Ellie will understand why I've done
it。 She's never yet been able to make out why you returned her
scarf…pin。〃
For a long time she continued to lean against him； her head on
his knees； as she had done on the terrace of Como on the last
night of their honeymoon。 She had ceased to talk； and he sat
silent also； passing his hand quietly to and fro over her hair。
The first rapture had been succeeded by soberer feelings。 Her
confession had broken up the frozen pride about his heart； and
humbled him to the earth； but it had also roused forgotten
things； memories and scruples swept aside in the first rush of
their reunion。 He and she belonged to each other for always：
he understood that now。 The impulse which had first drawn them
together again； in spite of reason； in spite of themselves
almost； that deep…seated instinctive need that each had of the
other； would never again wholly let them go。 Yet as he sat
there he thought of Strefford； he thought of Coral Hicks。 He
had been a coward in regard to Coral； and Susy had been sincere
and courageous in regard to Strefford。 Yet his mind dwelt on
Coral with tenderness； with compunction； with remorse； and he
was almost sure that Susy had already put Strefford utterly out
of her mind。
It was the old contrast between the two ways of loving； the
man's way and the woman's； and after a moment it seemed to Nick
natural enough that Susy； from the very moment of finding him
again； should feel neither pity nor regret； and that Strefford
should already be to her as if he had never been。 After all；
there was something Providential in such arrangements。
He stooped closer； pressed her dreaming head between his hands；
and whispered： 〃Wake up； it's bedtime。〃
She rose； but as she moved away to turn on the light he caught
her hand and drew her to the window。 They leaned on the sill in
the darkness； and through the clouds； from which a few drops
were already falling； the moon； labouring upward； swam into a
space of sky； cast her troubled glory on them； and was again
hidden。
End