IT was a trifling1 enough sign, but it had remained in Susy'smind: that first morning in Venice Nick had gone out withoutfirst coming in to see her. She had stayed in bed late,chatting with Clarissa, and expecting to see the door open andher husband appear; and when the child left, and she had jumpedup and looked into Nick's room, she found it empty, and a lineon his dressing2 table informed her that he had gone out to senda telegram.
It was lover-like, and even boyish, of him to think it necessaryto explain his absence; but why had he not simply come in andtold her! She instinctively3 connected the little fact with theshade of preoccupation she had noticed on his face the nightbefore, when she had gone to his room and found him absorbed inletter; and while she dressed she had continued to wonder whatwas in the letter, and whether the telegram he had hurried outto send was an answer to it.
She had never found out. When he reappeared, handsome and happyas the morning, he proffered4 no explanation; and it was part ofher life-long policy not to put uncalled-for questions. It wasnot only that her jealous regard for her own freedom was matchedby an equal respect for that of others; she had steered5 too longamong the social reefs and shoals not to know how narrow is thepassage that leads to peace of mind, and she was determined6 tokeep her little craft in mid-channel. But the incident hadlodged itself in her memory, acquiring a sort of symbolicsignificance, as of a turning-point in her relations with herhusband. Not that these were less happy, but that she nowbeheld them, as she had always formerly8 beheld7 such joys, as anunstable islet in a sea of storms. Her present bliss9 was ascomplete as ever, but it was ringed by the perpetual menace ofall she knew she was hiding from Nick, and of all she suspectedhim of hiding from her ....
She was thinking of these things one afternoon about three weeksafter their arrival in Venice. It was near sunset, and she satalone on the balcony, watching the cross-lights on the waterweave their pattern above the flushed reflection of oldpalace-basements. She was almost always alone at that hour.
Nick had taken to writing in the afternoons--he had been as goodas his word, and so, apparently10, had the Muse11 and it was hishabit to join his wife only at sunset, for a late row on thelagoon. She had taken Clarissa, as usual, to the GiardinoPubblico, where that obliging child had politely butindifferently "played"--Clarissa joined in the diversions of herage as if conforming to an obsolete12 tradition--and had broughther back for a music lesson, echoes of which now drifted downfrom a distant window.
Susy had come to be extremely thankful for Clarissa. But forthe little girl, her pride in her husband's industry might havebeen tinged13 with a faint sense of being at times left out andforgotten; and as Nick's industry was the completestjustification for their being where they were, and for herhaving done what she had, she was grateful to Clarissa forhelping her to feel less alone. Clarissa, indeed, representedthe other half of her justification14: it was as much on thechild's account as on Nick's that Susy had held her tongue,remained in Venice, and slipped out once a week to post one ofEllie's numbered letters. A day's experience of the PalazzoVanderlyn had convinced Susy of the impossibility of desertingClarissa. Long experience had shown her that the most crowdedhouseholds often contain the loneliest nurseries, and that therich child is exposed to evils unknown to less pampered15 infancy;but hitherto such things had merely been to her one of theuglier bits in the big muddled16 pattern of life. Now she foundherself feeling where before she had only judged: herprecarious bliss came to her charged with a new weight of pity.
She was thinking of these things, and of the approaching date ofEllie Vanderlyn's return, and of the searching truths she wasstoring up for that lady's private ear, when she noticed agondola turning its prow17 toward the steps below the balcony.
She leaned over, and a tall gentleman in shabby clothes,glancing up at her as he jumped out, waved a mouldy Panama injoyful greeting.
"Streffy!" she exclaimed as joyfully18; and she was half-way downthe stairs when he ran up them followed by his luggage-ladenboatman.
"It's all right, I suppose?--Ellie said I might come," heexplained in a shrill19 cheerful voice; "and I'm to have my samegreen room with the parrot-panels, because its furniture isalready so frightfully stained with my hair-wash."Susy was beaming on him with the deep sense of satisfactionwhich his presence always produced in his friends. There was noone in the world, they all agreed, half as ugly and untidy anddelightful as Streffy; no one who combined such outspokenselfishness with such imperturbable21 good humour; no one who knewso well how to make you believe he was being charming to youwhen it was you who were being charming to him.
In addition to these seductions, of which none estimated thevalue more accurately22 than their possessor, Strefford had forSusy another attraction of which he was probably unconscious.
It was that of being the one rooted and stable being among thefluid and shifting figures that composed her world. Susy hadalways lived among people so denationalized that those one tookfor Russians generally turned out to be American, and those onewas inclined to ascribe to New York proved to have originated inRome or Bucharest. These cosmopolitan23 people, who, in countriesnot their own, lived in houses as big as hotels, or in hotelswhere the guests were as international as the waiters, hadinter-married, inter-loved and inter-divorced each other overthe whole face of Europe, and according to every code thatattempts to regulate human ties. Strefford, too, had his homein this world, but only one of his homes. The other, the one hespoke of, and probably thought of, least often, was a great dullEnglish country-house in a northern county, where a life asmonotonous and self-contained as his own was chequered anddispersed had gone on for generation after generation; and itwas the sense of that house, and of all it typified even to hisvagrancy and irreverence24, which, coming out now and then in histalk, or in his attitude toward something or somebody, gave hima firmer outline and a steadier footing than the othermarionettes in the dance. Superficially so like them all, andso eager to outdo them in detachment and adaptability,ridiculing the prejudices he had shaken off, and the people towhom he belonged, he still kept, under his easy pliancy25, theskeleton of old faiths and old fashions. "He talks everylanguage as well as the rest of us," Susy had once said of him,"but at least he talks one language better than the others"; andStrefford, told of the remark, had laughed, called her an idiot,and been pleased.
As he shambled up the stairs with her, arm in arm, she wasthinking of this quality with a new appreciation26 of its value.
Even she and Lansing, in spite of their unmixed Americanism,their substantial background of old-fashioned cousinships in NewYork and Philadelphia, were as mentally detached, as universallyat home, as touts27 at an International Exhibition. If they wereusually recognized as Americans it was only because they spokeFrench so well, and because Nick was too fair to be "foreign,"and too sharp-featured to be English. But Charlie Strefford wasEnglish with all the strength of an inveterate28 habit; andsomething in Susy was slowly waking to a sense of the beauty ofhabit.
Lounging on the balcony, whither he had followed her withoutpausing to remove the stains of travel, Strefford showed himselfimmensely interested in the last chapter of her history, greatlypleased at its having been enacted29 under his roof, and hugelyand flippantly amused at the firmness with which she refused tolet him see Nick till the latter's daily task was over.
"Writing? Rot! What's he writing? He's breaking you in, mydear; that's what he's doing: establishing an alibi30. What'llyou bet he's just sitting there smoking and reading Le Rire?
Let's go and see."But Susy was firm. "He's read me his first chapter: it'swonderful. It's a philosophic31 romance--rather like Marius, youknow.""Oh, yes--I do!" said Strefford, with a laugh that she thoughtidiotic.
She flushed up like a child. "You're stupid, Streffy. Youforget that Nick and I don't need alibis32. We've got rid of allthat hyprocrisy by agreeing that each will give the other a handup when either of us wants a change. We've not married to spyand lie, and nag33 each other; we've formed a partnership34 for ourmutual advantage.""I see; that's capital. But how can you be sure that, when Nickwants a change, you'll consider it for his advantage to haveone?"It was the point that had always secretly tormented35 Susy; sheoften wondered if it equally tormented Nick.
"I hope I shall have enough common sense--" she began.
"Oh, of course: common sense is what you're both bound to baseyour argument on, whichever way you argue."This flash of insight disconcerted her, and she said, a littleirritably: "What should you do then, if you married?--Hush,Streffy! I forbid you to shout like that--all the gondolas36 arestopping to look!""How can I help it?" He rocked backward and forward in hischair. "'If you marry,' she says: 'Streffy, what have youdecided to do if you suddenly become a raving37 maniac38?'""I said no such thing. If your uncle and your cousin died,you'd marry to-morrow; you know you would.""Oh, now you're talking business." He folded his long arms andleaned over the balcony, looking down at the dusky ripplesstreaked with fire. "In that case I should say: 'Susan, mydear--Susan--now that by the merciful intervention39 of Providenceyou have become Countess of Altringham in the peerage of GreatBritain, and Baroness40 Dunsterville and d'Amblay in the peeragesof Ireland and Scotland, I'll thank you to remember that you area member of one of the most ancient houses in the UnitedKingdom--and not to get found out.'"Susy laughed. "We know what those warnings mean! I pity mynamesake."He swung about and gave her a quick look out of his small uglytwinkling eyes. "Is there any other woman in the world namedSusan?""I hope so, if the name's an essential. Even if Nick chucks me,don't count on me to carry out that programme. I've seen it inpractice too often.""Oh, well: as far as I know, everybody's in perfect health atAltringham." He fumbled41 in his pocket and drew out a fountainpen, a handkerchief over which it had leaked, and a packet ofdishevelled cigarettes. Lighting42 one, and restoring the otherobjects to his pocket, he continued calmly: "Tell me how didyou manage to smooth things over with the Gillows? Ursula wasrunning amuck43 when I was in Newport last Summer; it was justwhen people were beginning to say that you were going to marryNick. I was afraid she'd put a spoke20 in your wheel; and I hearshe put a big cheque in your hand instead."Susy was silent. From the first moment of Strefford'sappearance she had known that in the course of time he wouldput that question. He was as inquisitive44 as a monkey, and whenhe had made up his mind to find out anything it was useless totry to divert his attention. After a moment's hesitation45 shesaid: "I flirted46 with Fred. It was a bore but he was verydecent.""He would be--poor Fred. And you got Ursula thoroughlyfrightened!""Well--enough. And then luckily that young Nerone Altineriturned up from Rome: he went over to New York to look for a jobas an engineer, and Ursula made Fred put him in their ironworks." She paused again, and then added abruptly47: "Streffy!
If you knew how I hate that kind of thing. I'd rather have Nickcome in now and tell me frankly48, as I know he would, that he'sgoing off with--""With Coral Hicks?" Strefford suggested.
She laughed. "Poor Coral Hicks! What on earth made you thinkof the Hickses?""Because I caught a glimpse of them the other day at Capri.
They're cruising about: they said they were coming in here.""What a nuisance! I do hope they won't find us out. They wereawfully kind to Nick when he went to India with them, andthey're so simple-minded that they would expect him to be gladto see them."Strefford aimed his cigarette-end at a tourist on a puggaree whowas gazing up from his guidebook at the palace. "Ah," hemurmured with satisfaction, seeing the shot take effect; then headded: "Coral Hicks is growing up rather pretty.""Oh, Streff--you're dreaming! That lump of a girl withspectacles and thick ankles! Poor Mrs. Hicks used to say toNick: 'When Mr. Hicks and I had Coral educated we presumedculture was in greater demand in Europe than it appears to be.'""Well, you'll see: that girl's education won't interfere49 withher, once she's started. So then: if Nick came in and told youhe was going off--""I should be so thankful if it was with a fright like Coral!
But you know," she added with a smile, "we've agreed that it'snot to happen for a year."
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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obsolete
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| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
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tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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pampered
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| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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cosmopolitan
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| adj.世界性的，全世界的，四海为家的，全球的 | |
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irreverence
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| n.不尊敬 | |
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pliancy
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| n.柔软，柔顺 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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touts
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| n.招徕( tout的名词复数 )；（音乐会、体育比赛等的）卖高价票的人；侦查者；探听赛马的情报v.兜售( tout的第三人称单数 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报 | |
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inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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alibis
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| 某人在别处的证据( alibi的名词复数 )； 不在犯罪现场的证人； 借口； 托辞 | |
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nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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gondolas
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| n.狭长小船( gondola的名词复数 )；货架（一般指商店，例如化妆品店）；吊船工作台 | |
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raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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baroness
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| n.男爵夫人，女男爵 | |
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fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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amuck
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| ad.狂乱地 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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