“You sure did it up in style,” Jim remarked as the two women mounted the stairs.
“Yes,” admitted John. “It seemed so mean to bring her in the train after such a long trip. You know she’s been used to all sorts of things—comforts I mean.”
Jim relighted his pipe in silence.
The men smoked and discussed their new contract until the women reappeared. Both avoided any further reference to the addition to their circle. When Lucy and her mother came down, the elder woman was tastefully arrayed in a charming house dress of some pale green sheer material that was a miracle in its sophisticated simplicity. John expressed his admiration and Mrs. Merwent gave a silvery laugh.
“Oh, this! It’s an old easy dress I wear around the house. Mr. Sprague will have to get used to seeing me in such things. I hear he’s quite one of the family.”
Jim, who had been watching Lucy as she passed to and fro from the kitchen, answered, “I’m sure it’s very becoming, Mrs. Merwent.”
Nannie made a little moue at John while Jim continued:
“We’d better get down town, John. You know Howland is coming at ten o’clock to look over the final plans for his house and sign the papers, and you especially wanted to talk to him about that decoration scheme of yours.”
“Do you think my trunks are safe with that express company, John?” interrupted Mrs. Merwent.
“Why, yes, perfectly, Nannie. They’ll probably be here before night.”
“Well, would you mind going to the express office and asking if they’ve been sent? I’m so worried about them.”
“Sure. I’ll call them up as soon as I get to the office,” agreed John heartily.
Nannie sighed a trifle resignedly.
When the two men were seated in a car of the train bound for the city John commented enthusiastically on the incidents of Mrs. Merwent’s arrival.
“I’m glad the strained feeling is over with. It’ll be fine for Lucy to have her mother with her,” he said.
Jim did not answer.
“Mrs. Merwent’s all alone now,” pursued John. “She’s been very badly treated. A woman needs a man to look after her.”
For reply Jim grunted.
III
Mrs. Merwent had watched John and Jim until they turned the corner. When they were out of sight she came and sat by the kitchen table where Lucy was washing the breakfast dishes.
“Let me help you, dear,” Nannie offered.
“No, thank you, Mamma. It isn’t much and it’ll be done in a minute.”
“Now you mustn’t hesitate to ask me to do anything I can,” went on the older woman. “I don’t want to be a burden on John and you. I want you to realize that I am willing to help and that I cherish no ill feeling about anything that has happened.”
Lucy looked at her in surprise.
“Well, you rest up today from your journey,” she answered after a moment. She was placing dishes in the china cupboard. “You must be tired.”
“I never saw such a poor service on any railway,” resumed Mrs. Merwent, having interrupted the conversation by going into the dining room and bringing a rocking chair out into the kitchen for herself. “There were no sterilized drinking cups and no electric lights in the berths. I don’t think they should be allowed to run such old, out-of-date cars.”
Lucy worked a moment in silence.
“But I must say the service on the diner was good,” pursued Nannie. “I had some fried spring chicken that was so tender and juicy it fairly melted in your mouth.”
“I haven’t been on any but a suburban train since our wedding journey,” Lucy observed.
“Oh, Lucy, what a terrible time that was for me!” Mrs. Merwent drew out her handkerchief.
“I thought you said in your letter that we wouldn’t discuss what happened, Mamma,” Lucy accused gently.
“Oh, Lucy, anyone who went through what I did can’t forget it all at once,” Mrs. Merwent protested.
Lucy was silent again.
“But I cherish no hard feelings,” Nannie went on, “although poor Mother never got over your going away.”
After a few moments Nannie returned to the subject of travel.
“Don’t you ever go away from the city, Lucy? I should think it would be dull staying in one place so long.”
“We can’t afford travelling.” Lucy spoke emphatically.
“Well, I can’t either, now.” Mrs. Merwent settled herself more comfortably in the rocking chair. “It was only the kindness of my dear friend, Professor Walsh, that made it possible for me to have any comfort at all on the way. He came part way with me and arranged that I was to be looked after until the end of my journey.”
Lucy busied herself with the preparations for luncheon.
“I do wonder if my trunks are safe!” exclaimed Nannie after a short pause. “I didn’t like the looks of the man who took the checks.”
“They’re safe,” Lucy assured her. “Don’t worry about them.”
“Have you got a cup of coffee made, Lucy?” her mother then asked, surveying the kitchen.
“Why, I thought you and John had had breakfast,” Lucy apologised.
“We did, but it was so early and I was so excited I hardly ate a bite. If you could let me have a cup of coffee and a tea cake or two—I’m afraid it will give me the headache if I eat nothing until luncheon.”
“Why, of course, Mamma. It’ll only take me a minute to make coffee.” Lucy measured the water as she spoke.
“I thought it was already fixed or I wouldn’t have asked for it,” protested Nannie. “I don’t want to make any extra work.”
“Oh, that’s nothing.” Lucy put cup, saucer, spoon, and plate on the kitchen table.
“Now you must let me wait on myself,” Mrs. Merwent objected as Lucy placed the sugar bowl and cream pitcher before her.
“It’s all ready, Mamma.”
“I had no idea you’d do all this,” Nannie remarked as she resigned herself to the consumption of coffee, cookies, and some muffins left from breakfast.
“We’ll be all alone for luncheon. John never comes home at midday,” Lucy informed her mother. An inviting
