the glimpses of the moon-第27部分

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end　of　the　earth　to　the　other。



Oh；　the　monotony　of　those　facesthe　faces　one　always　knew；

whether　one　knew　the　people　they　belonged　to　or　not！　　A　fresh

disgust　seized　her　at　the　sight　of　them：　　she　wavered；　and　then

turned　and　fled。　　But　on　the　threshold　a　still　more　familiar

figure　met　her：　　that　of　a　lady　in　exaggerated　pearls　and

sables；　descending　from　an　exaggerated　motor；　like　the　motors　in

magazine　advertisements；　the　huge　arks　in　which　jewelled

beauties　and　slender　youths　pause　to　gaze　at　snowpeaks　from　an

Alpine　summit。



It　was　Ursula　Gillowdear　old　Ursula；　on　her　way　to　Scotland

and　she　and　Susy　fell　on　each　other's　necks。　　It　appeared　that

Ursula；　detained　till　the　next　evening　by　a　dress…maker's　delay；

was　also　out　of　a　job　and　killing　time；　and　the　two　were　soon

smiling　at　each　other　over　the　exquisite　preliminaries　of　a

luncheon　which　the　head…waiter　had　authoritatively　asked　Mrs。

Gillow　to　〃leave　to　him；　as　usual。〃



Ursula　was　in　a　good　humour。　　It　did　not　often　happen；　but　when

it　did　her　benevolence　knew　no　bounds。



Like　Mrs。　Melrose；　like　all　her　tribe　in　fact；　she　was　too　much

absorbed　in　her　own　affairs　to　give　more　than　a　passing　thought

to　any　one　else's；　but　she　was　delighted　at　the　meeting　with

Susy；　as　her　wandering　kind　always　were　when　they　ran　across

fellow…wanderers；　unless　the　meeting　happened　to　interfere　with

choicer　pleasures。　　Not　to　be　alone　was　the　urgent　thing；　and

Ursula；　who　had　been　forty…eight　hours　alone　in　London；　at　once

exacted　from　her　friend　a　promise　that　they　should　spend　the

rest　of　the　day　together。　　But　once　the　bargain　struck　her　mind

turned　again　to　her　own　affairs；　and　she　poured　out　her

confidences　to　Susy　over　a　succession　of　dishes　that　manifested

the　head…waiter's　understanding　of　the　case。



Ursula's　confidences　were　always　the　same；　though　they　were

usually　about　a　different　person。　　She　demolished　and　rebuilt

her　sentimental　life　with　the　same　frequency　and　impetuosity　as

that　with　which　she　changed　her　dress…makers；　did　over　her

drawing…rooms；　ordered　new　motors；　altered　the　mounting　of　her

jewels；　and　generally　renewed　the　setting　of　her　life。　　Susy

knew　in　advance　what　the　tale　would　be；　but　to　listen　to　it　over

perfect　coffee；　an　amber…scented　cigarette　at　her　lips；　was

pleasanter　than　consuming　cold　mutton　alone　in　a　mouldy　coffee…

room。　　The　contrast　was　so　soothing　that　she　even　began　to　take

a　languid　interest　in　her　friend's　narrative。



After　luncheon　they　got　into　the　motor　together　and　began　a

systematic　round　of　the　West　End　shops：　　furriers；　jewellers　and

dealers　in　old　furniture。　　Nothing　could　be　more　unlike　Violet

Melrose's　long　hesitating　sessions　before　the　things　she　thought

she　wanted　till　the　moment　came　to　decide。　　Ursula　pounced　on

silver　foxes　and　old　lacquer　as　promptly　and　decisively　as　on

the　objects　of　her　surplus　sentimentality：　　she　knew　at　once

what　she　wanted；　and　valued　it　more　after　it　was　hers。



〃And　nowI　wonder　if　you　couldn't　help　me　choose　a　grand

piano？〃　she　suggested；　as　the　last　antiquarian　bowed　them　out。



〃A　piano？〃



〃Yes：　　for　Ruan。　　I'm　sending　one　down　for　Grace　Fulmer。　　She's

coming　to　stay　。。。　did　I　tell　you？　　I　want　people　to　hear　her。

I　want　her　to　get　engagements　in　London。　　My　dear；　she's　a

Genius。〃



〃A　GeniusGrace！〃　Susy　gasped。　　〃I　thought　it　was　Nat　。。。。〃



〃NatNat　Fulmer？　　Ursula　laughed　derisively。　　〃Ah；　of　course

you've　been　staying　with　that　silly　Violet！　　The　poor　thing　is

off　her　head　about　Natit's　really　pitiful。　　Of　course　he　has

talent：　　I　saw　that　long　before　Violet　had　ever　heard　of　him。

Why；　on　the　opening　day　of　the　American　Artists'　exhibition；

last　winter；　I　stopped　short　before　his　'Spring　Snow…Storm'

（which　nobody　else　had　noticed　till　that　moment）；　and　said　to

the　Prince；　who　was　with　me：　　'The　man　has　talent。'　　But

geniuswhy；　it's　his　wife　who　has　genius！　　Have　you　never　heard

Grace　play　the　violin？　　Poor　Violet；　as　usual；　is　off　on　the

wrong　tack。　　I've　given　Fulmer　my　garden…house　to　dono　doubt

Violet　told　youbecause　I　　wanted　to　help　him。　　But　Grace　is　my

discovery；　and　I'm　determined　to　make　her　known；　and　to　have

every　one　understand　that　she　is　the　genius　of　the　two。　　I've

told　her　she　simply　must　come　to　Ruan；　and　bring　the　best

accompanyist　she　can　find。　　You　know　poor　Nerone　is　dreadfully

bored　by　sport；　though　of　course　he　goes　out　with　the　guns。　　And

if　one　didn't　have　a　little　art　in　the　evening　。。。。　　Oh；　Susy；

do　you　mean　to　tell　me　you　don't　know　how　to　choose　a　piano？　　I

thought　you　were　so　fond　of　music！〃



〃I　am　fond　of　it；　but　without　knowing　anything　about　itin　the

way　we're　all　of　us　fond　of　the　worthwhile　things　in　our　stupid

set；〃　she　added　to　herselfsince　it　was　obviously　useless　to

impart　such　reflections　to　Ursula。



〃But　are　you　sure　Grace　is　coming？〃　she　questioned　aloud。



〃Quite　sure。　　Why　shouldn't　she？　　I　wired　to　her　yesterday。　　I'm

giving　her　a　thousand　dollars　and　all　her　expenses。〃



It　was　not　till　they　were　having　tea　in　a　Piccadilly　tea…room

that　Mrs。　Gillow　began　to　manifest　some　interest　in　her

companion's　plans。　　The　thought　of　losing　Susy　became　suddenly

intolerable　to　her。　　The　Prince；　who　did　not　see　why　he　should

be　expected　to　linger　in　London　out　of　season；　was　already　at

Ruan；　and　Ursula　could　not　face　the　evening　and　the　whole　of　the

next　day　by　herself。



〃But　what　are　you　doing　in　town；　darling；　I　don't　remember　if

I've　asked　you；〃　she　said；　resting　her　firm　elbows　on　the　tea…

table　while　she　took　a　light　from　Susy's　cigarette。



Susy　hesitated。　　She　had　foreseen　that　the　time　must　soon　come

when　she　should　have　to　give　some　account　of　herself；　and　why

should　she　not　begin　by　telling　Ursula？



But　telling　her　what？



Her　silence　appeared　to　strike　Mrs。　Gillow　as　a　reproach；　and

she　continued　with　compunction：　　〃And　Nick？　　Nick's　with　you？

How　is　he；　I　thought　you　and　he　still　were　in　Venice　with　Ellie

Vanderlyn。〃



〃We　were；　for　a　few　weeks。〃　　She　steadied　her　voice。　　〃It　was

delightful。　　But　now　we're　both　on　our　own　againfor　a　while。〃



Mrs。　Gillow　scrutinized　her　more　searchingly。　　〃Oh；　you're　alone

here；　then；　quite　alone？〃



〃Yes：　　Nick's　cruising　with　some　friends　in　the　Mediterranean。〃



Ursula's　shallow　gaze　deepened　singularly。　　〃But；　Susy　darling；

then　if　you're　aloneand　out　of　a　job；　just　for　the　moment？〃



Susy　smiled。　　〃Well；　I'm　not　sure。〃



〃Oh；　but　if　you　are；　darling；　and　you　would　come　to　Ruan！　　I

know　Fred　asked　you　didn't　he？　　And　he　told　me　that　both　you　and

Nick　had　refused。　　He　was　awfully　huffed　at　your　not　coming；　but

I　suppose　that　was　because　Nick　had　other　plans。　　We　couldn't

have　him　now；　because　there's　no　room　for　another　gun；　but　since

he's　not　here；　and　you're　free；　why　you　know；　dearest；　don't

you；　how　we'd　love　to　have　you？　　Fred　would　be　too　gladtoo

outrageously　gladbut　you　don't　much　mind　Fred's　love…making；

do　you？　　And　you'd　be　such　a　help　to　meif　that's　any　argument！

With　that　big　house　full　of　men；　and　people　flocking　over　every

night　to　dine；　and　Fred　caring　only　for　sport；　and　Nerone　simply

loathing　it　and　ridiculing　it；　and　not　a　minute　to　myself　to　try

to　keep　him　in　a　good　humour　。。。。　　Oh；　Susy　darling；　don't　say

no；　but　let　me　telephone　at　once　for　a　place　in　the　train　to

morrow　night！〃



Susy　leaned　back；　letting　the　ash　lengthen　on　her　cigarette。

How　familiar；　how　hatefully　familiar；　was　that　old　appeal！

Ursula　felt　the　pressing　need　of　someone　to　flirt　with　Fred　for

a　few　weeks　。。。　and　here　was　the　very　person　she　needed。　　Susy

shivered　at　the　thought。　　She　had　never　really　meant　to　go　to

Ruan。　　She　had　simply　used　the　moor　as　a　pretext　when　Violet

Melrose　had　gently　put　her　out　of　doors。　　Rather　than　do　what

Ursula　asked　she　would　borrow　a　few　hundred　pounds　of　Strefford；

as　he　had　suggested；　and　then　look　about　for　some　temporary

occupation　until



Until　she　became　Lady　Altringham？　　Well；　perhaps。　　At　any　rate；

she　was　not　going　back　to　slave　for　Ursula。



She　shook　her　head　with　a　faint　smile。　　〃I'm　so　sorry；　Ursula：

of　course　I　want　awfully　to　oblige　you〃



Mrs。　Gillow's　gaze　grew　reproachful。　　〃I　should　have　supposed

you　would；〃　she　murmured。　　Susy；　meeting　her　eyes；　looked　into

them　down　a　long　vista　of　favours　bestowed；　and　perceived　that

Ursula　was　not　the　woman　to　forget　on　which　side　the　obligation

lay　between　them。



Susy　hesitated：　　she　remembered　the　weeks　of　ecstasy　she　had

owed　to　the　Gillows'　wedding　cheque；　and　it　hurt　her　to　appear

ungrateful。



〃If　I　could；　Ursula　。。。　but　really　。。。　I'm　not　free　at　the

moment。〃　　She　paused；　and　then　took　an　abrupt　decision。　　〃The

fact　is；　I'm　waiting　here　to　see　Strefford。〃



〃Strefford'　Lord　Altringham？〃　　Ursula　stared。　　〃Ah；　yes…I

remember。　　You　and　he　used　to　be　great　friends；　didn't　you？〃

Her　roving　attention　deepened　。。。。　　But　if　Susy　were　waiting　to

see　Lord　Altringhamone　of　the　richest　men　in　England！

Suddenly　Ursula　opened　her　gold…meshed　bag　and　snatched　a

miniature　diary　from　it。



〃But　wait　a　momentyes；　it　is　next　week！　　I　knew　it　was　next

week　he's　coming　to　Ruan！　　But；　you　darling；　that　makes

everything　all　right。　　You'll　send　him　a　wire　at　once；　and　come

with　me　tomorrow；　and　meet　him　there　instead　of　in　this　nasty

sloppy　desert　。。。。　　Oh；　Susy；　if　you　knew　how　hard　life　is　for

me　in　Scotland　between　the　Prince　and　Fred　you　couldn't　possibly

say　no！〃



Susy　still　wavered；　but；　after　all；　if　Strefford　were　really

bound　for　Ruan；　why　not　see　him　there；　agreeably　and　at　leisure；

instead　of　spending　a　dreary　day　with　him　in　roaming　the　wet

London　streets；　or　screaming　at　him　through　the　rattle　of　a

restaurant　orchestra？　　She　knew　he　would　not　be　likely　to

postpone　his　visit　to　Ruan　in　order　to　linger　in　London　with

her：　　such　concessions　had　never　been　his　way；　and　were　l