ier of incomprehension that
separated the latter from Mrs. Vanderlyn. Clarissa had nothing to
teach Susy but the horror of her own hard little appetites; whereas the
company of the noisy argumentative Fulmers had been a school of wisdom
and abnegation.

As she applied the brush to Geordie's shining head and the handkerchief
to his snuffling nose, the sense of what she owed him was so borne in on
Susy that she interrupted the process to catch him to her bosom.

"I'll have such a story to tell you when I get back to-night, if you'll
promise me to be good all day," she bargained with him; and Geordie,
always astute, bargained back: "Before I promise, I'd like to know what
story."

At length all was in order. Junie had been enlightened, and Angele
stunned, by the minuteness of Susy's instructions; and the latter,
waterproofed and stoutly shod, descended the doorstep, and paused to
wave at the pyramid of heads yearning to her from an upper window.

It was hardly light, and still raining, when she turned into the dismal
street. As usual, it was empty; but at the corner she perceived a
hesitating taxi, with luggage piled beside the driver. Perhaps it was
some early traveller, just arriving, who would release the carriage in
time for her to catch it, and thus avoid the walk to the metro, and the
subsequent strap-hanging; for it was the work-people's hour. Susy raced
toward the vehicle, which, overcoming its hesitation, was beginning to
move in her direction. Observing this, she stopped to see where it
would discharge its load. Thereupon the taxi stopped also, and the load
discharged itself in front of her in the shape of Nick Lansing.

The two stood staring at each other through the rain till Nick broke
out: "Where are you going? I came to get you."

"To get me? To get me?" she repeated. Beside the driver she had suddenly
remarked the old suit-case from which her husband had obliged her to
extract Strefford's cigars as they were leaving Como; and everything
that had happened since seemed to fall away and vanish in the pang and
rapture of that memory.

"To get you; yes. Of course." He spoke the words peremptorily, almost as
if they were an order. "Where were you going?" he repeated.

Without answering, she turned toward the house. He followed her, and the
laden taxi closed the procession.

"Why are you out in such weather without an umbrella?" he continued, in
the same severe tone, drawing her under the shelter of his.