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woman of these days could look；〃 he declared； 〃only Marjolaine did
smile sometimes。 You have rather the air of wondering if you'd
left out enough tea for the servants' breakfast。 Don't mind my
teasing； I love you to look like that； and besides； it makes a
splendid foil to my Harlequin … my selfishness coming to the fore
again； you see。 But you really are to go home the moment you're
bored； the excellent Kelnicort gets heaps of dances throughout the
winter； so don't mind sacrificing her。〃
A little later in the evening Elaine found herself standing out a
dance with a grave young gentleman from the Russian Embassy。
〃Monsieur Courtenay enjoys himself； doesn't he？〃 he observed； as
the youthful…looking harlequin flashed past them； looking like some
restless gorgeous…hued dragonfly； 〃why is it that the good God has
given your countrymen the boon of eternal youth？ Some of your
countrywomen； too； but all of the men。〃
Elaine could think of many of her countrymen who were not and never
could have been youthful； but as far as Courtenay was concerned she
recognised the fitness of the remark。 And the recognition carried
with it a sense of depression。 Would he always remain youthful and
keen on gaiety and revelling while she grew staid and retiring？
She had thrust the lively intractable Comus out of her mind； as by
his perverseness he had thrust himself out of her heart； and she
had chosen the brilliant young man of affairs as her husband。 He
had honestly let her see the selfish side of his character while he
was courting her； but she had been prepared to make due sacrifices
to the selfishness of a public man who had his career to consider
above all other things。 Would she also have to make sacrifices to
the harlequin spirit which was now revealing itself as an
undercurrent in his nature？ When one has inured oneself to the
idea of a particular form of victimisation it is disconcerting to
be confronted with another。 Many a man who would patiently undergo
martyrdom for religion's sake would be furiously unwilling to be a
martyr to neuralgia。
〃I think that is why you English love animals so much；〃 pursued the
young diplomat； 〃you are such splendid animals yourselves。 You are
lively because you want to be lively； not because people are
looking on at you。 Monsieur Courtenay is certainly an animal。 I
mean it as a high compliment。〃
〃Am I an animal？〃 asked Elaine。
〃I was going to say you are an angel；〃 said the Russian； in some
embarrassment； 〃but I do not think that would do； angels and
animals would never get on together。 To get on with animals you
must have a sense of humour； and I don't suppose angels have any
sense of humour； you see it would be no use to them as they never
hear any jokes。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Elaine； with a tinge of bitterness in her voice；
〃perhaps I am a vegetable。〃
〃I think you most remind me of a picture；〃 said the Russian。
It was not the first time Elaine had heard the simile。
〃I know；〃 she said； 〃the Narrow Gallery at the Louvre； attributed
to Leonardo da Vinci。〃
Evidently the impression she made on people was solely one of
externals。
Was that how Courtenay regarded her？ Was that to be her function
and place in life； a painted background； a decorative setting to
other people's triumphs and tragedies？ Somehow to…night she had
the feeling that a general might have who brought imposing forces
into the field and could do nothing with them。 She possessed youth
and good looks； considerable wealth； and had just made what would
be thought by most people a very satisfactory marriage。 And
already she seemed to be standing aside as an onlooker where she
had expected herself to be taking a leading part。
〃Does this sort of thing appeal to you？〃 she asked the young
Russian； nodding towards the gay scrimmage of masqueraders and
rather prepared to hear an amused negative。〃
〃But yes； of course；〃 he answered； 〃costume balls； fancy fairs；
cafe chantant； casino； anything that is not real life appeals to us
Russians。 Real life with us is the sort of thing that Maxim Gorki
deals in。 It interests us immensely； but we like to get away from
it sometimes。〃
Madame Kelnicort came up with another prospective partner； and
Elaine delivered her ukase： one more dance and then back to the
hotel。 Without any special regret she made her retreat from the
revel which Courtenay was enjoying under the impression that it was
life and the young Russian under the firm conviction that it was
not。
Elaine breakfasted at her aunts' table the next morning at much her
usual hour。 Courtenay was sleeping the sleep of a happy tired
animal。 He had given instructions to be called at eleven o'clock；
from which time onward the NEUE FREIE PRESSE； the ZEIT； and his
toilet would occupy his attention till he appeared at the luncheon
table。 There were not many people breakfasting when Elaine arrived
on the scene； but the room seemed to be fuller than it really was
by reason of a penetrating voice that was engaged in recounting how
far the standard of Viennese breakfast fare fell below the
expectations and desires of little Jerome and the girls。
〃If ever little Jerome becomes President of the United States；〃
said Elaine； 〃I shall be able to contribute quite an informing
article on his gastronomic likes and dislikes to the papers。〃
The aunts were discreetly inquisitive as to the previous evening's
entertainment。
〃If Elaine would flirt mildly with somebody it would be such a good
thing；〃 said Mrs。 Goldbrook； 〃it would remind Courtenay that he's
not the only attractive young man in the world。〃
Elaine； however； did not gratify their hopes； she referred to the
ball with the detachment she would have shown in describing a
drawing…room show of cottage industries。 It was not difficult to
discern in her description of the affair the confession that she
had been slightly bored。 From Courtenay； later in the day； the
aunts received a much livelier impression of the festivities； from
which it was abundantly clear that he at any rate had managed to
amuse himself。 Neither did it appear that his good opinion of his
own attractions had suffered any serious shock。 He was distinctly
in a very good temper。
〃The secret of enjoying a honeymoon；〃 said Mrs。 Goldbrook
afterwards to her sister； 〃is not to attempt too much。〃
〃You mean … ？〃
〃Courtenay is content to try and keep one person amused and happy；
and he thoroughly succeeds。〃
〃I certainly don't think Elaine is going to be very happy；〃 said
her sister； 〃but at least Courtenay saved her from making the
greatest mistake she could have made … marrying that young
Bassington。〃
〃He has also；〃 said Mrs。 Goldbrook； 〃helped her to make the next
biggest mistake of her life … marrying Courtenay Youghal。