the glimpses of the moon-第28部分

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

than　ever　likely　to　be；　now　that　he　could　do　so　thoroughly　and

completely　as　he　pleased。



For　the　first　time　she　fully　understood　how　different　his

destiny　had　become。　　Now　of　course　all　his　days　and　hours　were

mapped　out　in　advance：　　invitations　assailed　him；　opportunities

pressed　on　him；　he　had　only　to　choose　。。。。　　And　the　women！　　She

had　never　before　thought　of　the　women。　　All　the　girls　in　England

would　be　wanting　to　marry　him；　not　to　mention　her　own

enterprising　compatriots。　　And　there　were　the　married　women；　who

were　even　more　to　be　feared。　　Streff　might；　for　the　time；　escape

marriage；　though　she　could　guess　the　power　of　persuasion；　family

pressure；　all　the　converging　traditional　influences　he　had　so

often　ridiculed；　yet；　as　she　knew；　had　never　completely　thrown

off　。。。。　　Yes；　those　quiet　invisible　women　at　Altringham…his

uncle's　widow；　his　mother；　the　spinster　sistersit　was　not

impossible　that；　with　tact　and　patienceand　the　stupidest　women

could　be　tactful　and　patient　on　such　occasionsthey　might

eventually　persuade　him　that　it　was　his　duty；　they　might　put

just　the　right　young　loveliness　in　his　way　。。。。　　But　meanwhile；

now；　at　once；　there　were　the　married　women。　　Ah；　they　wouldn't

wait；　they　were　doubtless　laying　their　traps　already！　　Susy

shivered　at　the　thought。　　She　knew　too　much　about　the　way　the

trick　was　done；　had　followed；　too　often；　all　the　sinuosities　of

such　approaches。　　Not　that　they　were　very　sinuous　nowadays：

more　often　there　was　just　a　swoop　and　a　pounce　when　the　time

came；　but　she　knew　all　the　arts　and　the　wiles　that　led　up　to　it。

She　knew　them；　oh；　how　she　knew　themthough　with　Streff；　thank

heaven；　she　had　never　been　called　upon　to　exercise　them！　　His

love　was　there　for　the　asking：　　would　she　not　be　a　fool　to

refuse　it？



Perhaps；　though　on　that　point　her　mind　still　wavered。　　But　at

any　rate　she　saw　that；　decidedly；　it　would　be　better　to　yield　to

Ursula's　pressure；　better　to　meet　him　at　Ruan；　in　a　congenial

setting；　where　she　would　have　time　to　get　her　bearings；　observe

what　dangers　threatened　him；　and　make　up　her　mind　whether；　after

all；　it　was　to　be　her　mission　to　save　him　from　the　other　women。



〃Well；　if　you　like；　then；　Ursula　。。。。〃



〃Oh；　you　angel；　you！　　I'm　so　glad！　　We'll　go　to　the　nearest　post

office；　and　send　off　the　wire　ourselves。〃



As　they　got　into　the　motor　Mrs。　Gillow　seized　Susy's　arm　with　a

pleading　pressure。　　〃And　you　will　let　Fred　make　love　to　you　a

little；　won't　you；　darling？〃







XVIII



〃BUT　I　can't　think；〃　said　Ellie　Vanderlyn　earnestly；　〃why　you

don't　announce　your　engagement　before　waiting　for　your　divorce。

People　are　beginning　to　do　it；　I　assure　youit's　so　much

safer！〃



Mrs。　Vanderlyn；　on　the　way　back　from　St。　Moritz　to　England；　had

paused　in　Paris　to　renew　the　depleted　wardrobe　which；　only　two

months　earlier；　had　filled　so　many　trunks　to　bursting。　　Other

ladies；　flocking　there　from　all　points　of　the　globe　for　the　same

purpose；　disputed　with　her　the　Louis　XVI　suites　of　the　Nouveau

Luxe；　the　pink…candled　tables　in　the　restaurant；　the　hours　for

trying…on　at　the　dressmakers'；　and　just　because　they　were　so

many；　and　all　feverishly　fighting　to　get　the　same　things　at　the

same　time；　they　were　all　excited；　happy　and　at　ease。　　It　was　the

most　momentous　period　of　the　year：　　the　height　of　the　〃dress

makers'　season。〃



Mrs。　Vanderlyn　had　run　across　Susy　Lansing　at　one　of　the　Rue　de

la　Paix　openings；　where　rows　of　ladies　wan　with　heat　and　emotion

sat　for　hours　in　rapt　attention　while　spectral　apparitions　in

incredible　raiment　tottered　endlessly　past　them　on　aching　feet。



Distracted　from　the　regal　splendours　of　a　chinchilla　cloak　by

the　sense　that　another　lady　was　also　examining　it；　Mrs。

Vanderlyn　turned　in　surprise　at　sight　of　Susy；　whose　head　was

critically　bent　above　the　fur。



〃Susy！　　I'd　no　idea　you　were　here！　　I　saw　in　the　papers　that　you

were　with　the　Gillows。〃　　The　customary　embraces　followed；　then

Mrs。　Vanderlyn；　her　eyes　pursuing　the　matchless　cloak　as　it

disappeared　down　a　vista　of　receding　mannequins；　interrogated

sharply：　　〃Are　you　shopping　for　Ursula？　　If　you　mean　to　order

that　cloak　for　her　I'd　rather　know。〃



Susy　smiled；　and　paused　a　moment　before　answering。　　During　the

pause　she　took　in　all　the　exquisite　details　of　Ellie　Vanderlyn's

perpetually　youthful　person；　from　the　plumed　crown　of　her　head

to　the　perfect　arch　of　her　patent…leather　shoes。　　At　last　she

said　quietly：　　〃Noto…day　I'm　shopping　for　myself。〃



〃Yourself？　　Yourself？〃　　Mrs。　Vanderlyn　echoed　with　a　stare　of

incredulity。



〃Yes；　just　for　a　change；〃　Susy　serenely　acknowledged。



〃But　the　cloakI　meant　the　chinchilla　cloak　。。。　the　one　with

the　ermine　lining　。。。。〃



〃Yes；　it　is　awfully　good；　isn't　it？　　But　I　mean　to　look

elsewhere　before　I　decide。〃



Ah；　how　often　she　had　heard　her　friends　use　that　phrase；　and　how

amusing　it　was；　now；　to　see　Ellie's　amazement　as　she　heard　it

tossed　off　in　her　own　tone　of　contemptuous　satiety！　　Susy　was

becoming　more　and　more　dependent　on　such　diversions；　without

them　her　days；　crowded　as　they　were；　would　nevertheless　have

dragged　by　heavily。　　But　it　still　amused　her　to　go　to　the　big

dressmakers'；　watch　the　mannequins　sweep　by；　and　be　seen　by　her

friends　superciliously　examining　all　the　most　expensive　dresses

in　the　procession。　　She　knew　the　rumour　was　abroad　that　she　and

Nick　were　to　be　divorced；　and　that　Lord　Altringham　was　〃devoted〃

to　her。　　She　neither　confirmed　nor　denied　the　report：　　she　just

let　herself　be　luxuriously　carried　forward　on　its　easy　tide。

But　although　it　was　now　three　months　since　Nick　had　left　the

Palazzo　Vanderlyn　she　had　not　yet　written　to　him…nor　he　to　her。



Meanwhile；　in　spite　of　all　that　she　packed　into　them；　the　days

passed　more　and　more　slowly；　and　the　excitements　she　had　counted

on　no　longer　excited　her。　　Strefford　was　hers：　　she　knew　that　he

would　marry　her　as　soon　as　she　was　free。　　They　had　been　together

at　Ruan　for　ten　days；　and　after　that　she　had　motored　south　with

him；　stopping　on　the　way　to　see　Altringham；　from　which；　at　the

moment；　his　mourning　relatives　were　absent。



At　Altringham　they　had　parted；　and　after　one　or　two　more　visits

in　England　she　had　come　back　to　Paris；　where　he　was　now　about　to

join　her。　　After　her　few　hours　at　Altringham　she　had　understood

that　he　would　wait　for　her　as　long　as　was　necessary：　　the　fear

of　the　〃other　women〃　had　ceased　to　trouble　her。　　But；　perhaps

for　that　very　reason；　the　future　seemed　less　exciting　than　she

had　expected。　　Sometimes　she　thought　it　was　the　sight　of　that

great　house　which　had　overwhelmed　her：　　it　was　too　vast；　too

venerable；　too　like　a　huge　monument　built　of　ancient　territorial

traditions　and　obligations。　　Perhaps　it　had　been　lived　in　for

too　long　by　too　many　serious…minded　and　conscientious　women：

somehow　she　could　not　picture　it　invaded　by　bridge　and　debts　and

adultery。　　And　yet　that　was　what　would　have　to　be；　of　course　。。。

she　could　hardly　picture　either　Strefford　or　herself　continuing

there　the　life　of　heavy　county　responsibilities；　dull　parties；

laborious　duties；　weekly　church…going；　and　presiding　over　local

committees　。。。。　　What　a　pity　they　couldn't　sell　it　and　have　a

little　house　on　the　Thames！



Nevertheless　she　was　not　sorry　to　let　it　be　known　that

Altringham　was　hers　when　she　chose　to　take　it。　　At　times　she

wondered　whether　Nick　knew　。。。　whether　rumours　had　reached　him。

If　they　had；　he　had　only　his　own　letter　to　thank　for　it。　　He　had

told　her　what　course　to　pursue；　and　she　was　pursuing　it。



For　a　moment　the　meeting　with　Ellie　Vanderlyn　had　been　a　shock

to　her；　she　had　hoped　never　to　see　Ellie　again。　　But　now　that

they　were　actually　face　to　face　Susy　perceived　how　dulled　her

sensibilities　were。　　In　a　few　moments　she　had　grown　used　to

Ellie；　as　she　was　growing　used　to　everybody　and　to　everything　in

the　old　life　she　had　returned　to。　　What　was　the　use　of　making

such　a　fuss　about　things？　　She　and　Mrs。　Vanderlyn　left　the

dress…maker's　together；　and　after　an　absorbing　session　at　a　new

milliner's　were　now　taking　tea　in　Ellie's　drawing…room　at　the

Nouveau　Luxe。



Ellie；　with　her　spoiled　child's　persistency；　had　come　back　to

the　question　of　the　chinchilla　cloak。　　It　was　the　only　one　she

had　seen　that　she　fancied　in　the　very　least；　and　as　she　hadn't　a

decent　fur　garment　left　to　her　name　she　was　naturally　in

somewhat　of　a　hurry　。。。　but；　of　course；　if　Susy　had　been

choosing　that　model　for　a　friend　。。。。



Susy；　leaning　back　against　her　cushions；　examined　through　half…

closed　lids　Mrs。　Vanderlyn's　small　delicately…restored

countenance；　which　wore　the　same　expression　of　childish

eagerness　as　when　she　discoursed　of　the　young　Davenant　of　the

moment。　　Once　again　Susy　remarked　that；　in　Ellie's　agitated

existence；　every　interest　appeared　to　be　on　exactly　the　same

plane。



〃The　poor　shivering　dear；〃　she　answered　laughing；　〃of　course　it

shall　have　its　nice　warm　winter　cloak；　and　I'll　choose　another

one　instead。〃



〃Oh；　you　darling；　you！　　If　you　would！　　Of　course；　whoever　you

were　ordering　it　for　need　never　know　。。。。〃



〃Ah；　you　can't　comfort　yourself　with　that；　I'm　afraid。　　I've

already　told　you　that　I　was　ordering　it　for　myself。〃　　Susy

paused　to　savour　to　the　full　Ellie's　look　of　blank　bewilderment；

then　her　amusement　was　checked　by　an　indefinable　change　in　her

friend's　expression。



〃Oh；　dearestseriously？　　I　didn't　know　there　was　someone　。。。。〃



Susy　flushed　to　the　forehead。　　A　horror　of　humiliation

overwhelmed　her。　　That　Ellie　should　dare　to　think　that　of　her

that　anyone　should　dare　to！



〃Someone　buying　chinchilla　cloaks　for　me？　　Thanks！〃　　she　flared

out。　　〃I　suppose　I　ought　to　be　glad　that　the　idea　didn't

immediately　occur　to　you。　　At　least　there　was　a　decent　interval

of　doubt　。。。。〃　　She　stood　up；　la