"God knows.Why do women lie to men all the time? For the pleasure of fooling them.""Oh, no.To get money, Rod--the best reason in the world, it being rather hard for a woman to make money by working for it.""The man's in love with you!"
"I wish he were," said Susan, laughing."I'd not be here, my dear--you may be sure of that.And I'd not content myself with forty a week.Oh, you don't know what tastes I've got!
Wait till I turn myself loose."
"Well--you can--in a few months," said Spenser.
Even as he had been protesting his disbelief in her story, his manner toward her had been growing more respectful--a change that at once hurt and amused her with its cynical suggestions, and also pleased her, giving her a confidence-breeding sense of a new value in herself.Rod went on, with a kind of shamefaced mingling of jest and earnest:
"You stick by me, Susie, old girl, and the time'll come when I'll be able to give you more than Brent.""I hope so," said Susan.
He eyed her sharply."I feel like a fool believing such a fairy story as you've been telling me.Yet I do.""That's good," laughed she."Now I can stay.If you hadn't believed me, I'd have had to go.And I don't want to do that--not yet."His eyes flinched."Not yet? What does that mean?""It means I'm content to stay, at present.Who can answer for tomorrow?" Her eyes lit up mockingly."For instance--you.
Today you think you're going to be true to me don't you? Yet tomorrow--or as soon as you get strength and street clothes, Imay catch you in some restaurant telling some girl she's the one you've been getting ready for."He laughed, but not heartily.Sperry came, and Susan went to buy at a department store a complete outfit for Rod, who still had only nightshirts.As she had often bought for him in the old days, she felt she would have no difficulty in fitting him nearly enough, with her accurate eye supplementing the measurements she had taken.When she got back home two hours and a half later, bringing her purchases in a cab, Sperry had gone and Rod was asleep.She sat in the bathroom, with the gas lighted, and worked at "Cavalleria" until she heard him calling.He had awakened in high good-humor.
"That was an awful raking you gave me before Sperry came,"began he."But it did me good.A man gets so in the habit of ordering women about that it becomes second nature to him.
You've made it clear to me that I've even less control over you than you have over me.So, dear, I'm going to be humble and try to give satisfaction, as servants say.""You'd better," laughed Susan."At least, until you get on your feet again.""You say we don't love each other," Rod went on, a becoming brightness in his strong face."Well--maybe so.But--we suit each other--don't we?""That's why I want to stay," said Susan, sitting on the bed and laying her hand caressingly upon his."I could stand it to go, for I've been trained to stand anything--everything.
But I'd hate it."
He put his arm round her, drew her against his breast.
"Aren't you happy here?" he murmured.
"Happier than any place else in the world," replied she softly.
After a while she got a small dinner for their two selves on the gas stove she had brought with her and had set up in the bathroom.As they ate, she cross-legged on the bed opposite him, they beamed contentedly at each other."Do you remember the dinner we had at the St.Nicholas in Cincinnati?" asked she.
"It wasn't as good as this," declared he."Not nearly so well cooked.You could make a fortune as a cook.But then you do everything well.""Even to rouging my lips?"
"Oh, forget it!" laughed he."I'm an ass.There's a wonderful fascination in the contrast between the dash of scarlet and the pallor of that clear, lovely skin of yours."Her eyes danced."You are getting well!" she exclaimed."I'm sorry I bought you clothes.I'll be uneasy every time you're out.""You can trust me.I see I've got to hustle to keep my job with you.Well, thank God, your friend Brent's old enough to be your father.""Is he?" cried Susan."Do you know, I never thought of his age.""Yes, he's forty at least--more.Are you sure he isn't after _you_, Susie?""He warned me that if I annoyed him in that way he'd discharge me.""Do you like him?"
"I--don't--know" was Susan's slow, reflective answer.
"I'm--afraid of him--a little."
Both became silent.Finally Rod said, with an impatient shake of the head, "Let's not think of him.""Let's try on your new clothes," cried Susan.
And when the dishes were cleared away they had a grand time trying on the things she had bought.It was amazing how near she had come to fitting him."You ought to feel flattered,"said she."Only a labor of love could have turned out so well."He turned abruptly from admiring his new suit in the glass and caught her in his arms."You do love me--you do!" he cried.
"No woman would have done all you've done for me, if she didn't."For answer, Susan kissed him passionately; and as her body trembled with the sudden upheaval of emotions long dormant or indulged only in debased, hateful ways, she burst into tears.
She knew, even in that moment of passion, that she did not love him; but not love itself can move the heart more deeply than gratitude and her bruised heart was so grateful for his words and tones and gestures of affection!
