ths 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-r