After luncheon they got into the motor together and began a systematic round of the West End shops: furriers, jewellers and dealers in old furniture. Nothing could be more unlike Violet Melrose's long hesitating sessions before the things she thought she wanted till the moment came to decide. Ursula pounced on silver foxes and old lacquer as promptly and decisively as on the objects of her surplus sentimentality: she knew at once what she wanted, and valued it more after it was hers.
"And now--I wonder if you couldn't help me choose a grand piano?" she suggested, as the last antiquarian bowed them out.
"A piano?"
"Yes: for Ruan. I'm sending one down for Grace Fulmer. She's coming to stay... did I tell you? I want people to hear her. I want her to get engagements in London. My dear, she's a Genius."
"A Genius--Grace!" Susy gasped. "I thought it was Nat...."
"Nat--Nat Fulmer?" Ursula laughed derisively. "Ah, of course--you've been staying with that silly Violet! The poor thing is off her head about Nat--it's really pitiful. Of course he has talent: I saw that long before Violet had ever heard of him. Why, on the opening day of the American Artists' exhibition, last winter, I stopped short before his 'Spring Snow-Storm' (which nobody else had noticed till that moment), and said to the Prince, who was with me: 'The man has talent.' But genius--why, it's his wife who has genius! Have you never heard Grace play the violin? Poor Violet, as usual, is off on the wrong tack. I've given Fulmer my garden-house to do--no doubt Violet told you--because I wanted to help him. But Grace is my discovery, and I'm determined to make her known, and to have every one understand that she is the genius of the two. I've told her she simply must come to Ruan, and bring the best accompanyist she can find. You know poor Nerone is dreadfully bored by sport, though of course he goes out with the guns. And if one didn't have a little art in the evening.... Oh, Susy, do you mean to tell me you don't know how to choose a piano? I thought you were so fond of music!"
"I am fond of it; but without knowing anything about it--in the way we're all of us fond of the worthwhile things in our stupid set," she added to herself--since it was obviously useless to impart such reflections to Ursula.
"But are you sure Grace is coming?" she questioned aloud.