按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hand； and had been sure in advance that as long as they were her
guests their only expense would be an occasional present to the
servants。 And what would the alternative be？ She and Lansing；
in their endless talks； had so lived themselves into the vision
of indolent summer days on the lagoon； of flaming hours on the
beach of the Lido； and evenings of music and dreams on their
broad balcony above the Giudecca； that the idea of having to
renounce these joys； and deprive her Nick of them； filled Susy
with a wrath intensified by his having confided in her that when
they were quietly settled in Venice he 〃meant to write。〃
Already nascent in her breast was the fierce resolve of the
author's wife to defend her husband's privacy and facilitate his
encounters with the Muse。 It was abominable； simply abominable；
that Ellie Vanderlyn should have drawn her into such a trap！
Wellthere was nothing for it but to make a clean breast of the
whole thing to Nick。 The trivial incident of the cigars…how
trivial it now seemed！showed her the kind of stand he would
take； and communicated to her something of his own
uncompromising energy。 She would tell him the whole story in
the morning； and try to find a way out with him： Susy's faith
in her power of finding a way out was inexhaustible。 But
suddenly she remembered the adjuration at the end of Mrs。
Vanderlyn's letter： 〃If you're ever owed me anything in the way
of kindness； you won't； on your sacred honour； say a word to
Nick 。。。。〃
It was； of course； exactly what no one had the right to ask of
her： if indeed the word 〃right〃； could be used in any
conceivable relation to this coil of wrongs。 But the fact
remained that； in the way of kindness； she did owe much to
Ellie； and that this was the first payment her friend had ever
exacted。 She found herself； in fact； in exactly the same
position as when Ursula Gillow； using the same argument； had
appealed to her to give up Nick Lansing。 Yes； Susy reflected；
but then Nelson Vanderlyn had been kind to her too； and the
money Ellie had been so kind with was Nelson's 。。。。 The queer
edifice of Susy's standards tottered on its base she honestly
didn't know where fairness lay； as between so much that was
foul。
The very depth of her perplexity puzzled her。 She had been in
〃tight places〃 before； had indeed been in so few that were not；
in one way or another； constricting！ As she looked back on her
past it lay before her as a very network of perpetual
concessions and contrivings。 But never before had she had such
a sense of being tripped up； gagged and pinioned。 The little
misery of the cigars still galled her； and now this big
humiliation superposed itself on the raw wound。 Decidedly； the
second month of their honey…moon was beginning cloudily 。。。。
She glanced at the enamel led travelling…clock on her dressing
tableone of the few wedding…presents she had consented to
accept in kindand was startled at the lateness of the hour。
In a moment Nick would be coming； and an uncomfortable sensation
in her throat warned her that through sheer nervousness and
exasperation she might blurt out something ill…advised。 The old
habit of being always on her guard made her turn once more to
the looking…glass。 Her face was pale and haggard； and having；
by a swift and skilful application of cosmetics； increased its
appearance of fatigue； she crossed the room and softly opened
her husband's door。
He too sat by a lamp； reading a letter which he put aside as she
entered。 His face was grave； and she said to herself that he
was certainly still thinking about the cigars。
〃I'm very tired； dearest； and my head aches so horribly that
I've come to bid you good…night。〃 Bending over the back of his
chair； she laid her arms on his shoulders。 He lifted his hands
to clasp hers； but； as he threw his head back to smile up at her
she noticed that his look was still serious； almost remote。 It
was as if； for the first time； a faint veil hung between his
eyes and hers。
〃I'm so sorry： it's been a long day for you；〃 he said absently；
pressing his lips to her hands
She felt the dreaded twitch in her throat。
〃Nick！〃 she burst out； tightening her embrace； 〃before I go；
you've got to swear to me on your honour that you know I should
never have taken those cigars for myself！〃
For a moment he stared at her； and she stared back at him with
equal gravity； then the same irresistible mirth welled up in
both； and Susy's compunctions were swept away on a gale of
laughter。
When she woke the next morning the sun was pouring in between
her curtains of old brocade； and its refraction from the ripples
of the Canal was drawing a network of golden scales across the
vaulted ceiling。 The maid had just placed a tray on a slim
marquetry table near the bed； and over the edge of the tray Susy
discovered the small serious face of Clarissa Vanderlyn。 At the
sight of the little girl all her dormant qualms awoke。
Clarissa was just eight； and small for her age： her little
round chin was barely on a level with the tea…service； and her
clear brown eyes gazed at Susy between the ribs of the toast…
rack and the single tea…rose in an old Murano glass。 Susy had
not seen her for two years； and she seemed； in the interval； to
have passed from a thoughtful infancy to complete ripeness of
feminine experience。 She was looking with approval at her
mother's guest。
〃I'm so glad you've come；〃 she said in a small sweet voice。 〃I
like you so very much。 I know I'm not to be often with you； but
at least you'll have an eye on me； won't you？〃
〃An eye on you！ I shall never want to have it off you； if you
say such nice things to me！〃 Susy laughed； leaning from her
pillows to draw the little girl up to her side。
Clarissa smiled and settled herself down comfortably on the
silken bedspread。 〃Oh； I know I'm not to be always about；
because you're just married； but could you see to it that I have
my meals regularly？〃
〃Why； you poor darling！ Don't you always？〃
〃Not when mother's away on these cures。 The servants don't
always obey me： you see I'm so little for my age。 In a few
years； of course； they'll have toeven if I don't grow much；〃
she added judiciously。 She put out her hand and touched the
string of pearls about Susy's throat。 〃They're small； but
they're very good。 I suppose you don't take the others when you
travel？〃
〃The others？ Bless you！ I haven't any othersand never shall
have； probably。〃
〃No other pearls？〃
〃No other jewels at all。〃
Clarissa stared。 〃Is that really true？〃 she asked； as if in
the presence of the unprecedented。
〃Awfully true；〃 Susy confessed。 〃But I think I can make the
servants obey me all the same。〃
This point seemed to have lost its interest for Clarissa； who
was still gravely scrutinizing her companion。 After a while she
brought forth another questi