The girl descended the stairs, Lucy following her.
“You can hash and brown the potatoes that were left. They’re in the refrigerator.”
“There ain’t no potatoes left,” objected Grace sulkily.
“Why, where are they? I told you to save them for luncheon.”
“I throwed ’em away.”
“What did you mean by throwing them away after I told you to put them in the refrigerator?”
“I don’t like warmed over things,” Grace informed her insolently.
“You will not be needed after tomorrow, Grace,” pronounced Lucy angrily. “Your week is up then. Of course I will pay you an extra week’s wages.”
“Why, what have I done, Mrs. Winter?” was the answer in a tone of injured innocence.
“We need not discuss it. It is sufficient that I shall not require your services after tomorrow.”
“If you are hinting that I took that money, Mrs. Winter, I will just let you know that there is protection for a girl who is accused falsely of stealing.”
“I’m not accusing you,” returned Lucy. “The money disappeared. So did a dollar bill I purposely placed on the table. I have no proof that you took either sum, but I am not compelled to keep anyone in my employ unless I wish, so we will consider the matter settled.”
Grace sought Nannie’s room without delay.
Not long after, Nannie presented herself in the living room where Lucy was engaged in straightening some papers on the desk. The girl had remained upstairs.
“What are you discharging Grace for, Lucy?” Nannie began excitedly.
“I think I have good reasons, Mamma, or I shouldn’t do it.”
“I’m afraid you are prejudiced against her, Lucy. She complains to me that you are not treating her fairly.”
“I must be the judge of what I am doing, Mamma.”
“Well, I should be careful about reflecting on her character and honesty. You don’t know that she took that money, and I am convinced that she didn’t. A girl who is considerate and thoughtful of others is not likely to be a thief.”
“I have accused her of nothing, Mamma, but I will not have her around.”
“Now, Lucy, of course I know that you think I should never say a word in this house, but I think it’s my duty to protest in this matter.” Mrs. Merwent assumed an expression of great dignity.
“I’m a better judge than you are of what kind of a servant I want,” retorted Lucy, her cheeks flushing.
“In other words, I should attend to my own business.”
“Well, Mamma, you certainly ought to know that I am the one to take the responsibility in such matters.”
“Without considering the wishes or comfort of anyone else in the family!” snapped Nannie. “Of course I might have known that I needn’t expect to be considered. I never count for anything.”
“I think the lack of consideration is on your part, Mamma. You don’t care if the girl is lazy and inefficient and dishonest. Just so long as she flatters you and pays you special attention, you stand up for her. The welfare of the family is nothing.”
“Of course I might have expected to be insulted. It’s not true, I tell you! I wasn’t thinking of myself at all. I know you are jealous and resentful whenever anybody pays me the least attention, but my only thought was simple justice to the girl. I don’t propose to see anybody misused. We’ll see what John says to your putting a girl in the street without provocation.”
“You can tell John, or anybody else you want to, but I shall do as I please in my own house,” flared Lucy, and left the room.
When John came home that evening he found Nannie alone in the living room. She was in tears.
“Why what’s the matter, Nannie?” he cried in consternation.
“Oh, John!” She wept. “I don’t know what has come over Lucy! I’ve tried so hard to overlook everything, and came here with a fixed determination to forget the past and all I’ve suffered on account of her, and now she treats me like this! She knows that I’m at her mercy, too. I was brought up to expect such a different fate!”
“Why, what has she done?” he asked anxiously.
“She wants to dismiss Grace just because the girl likes me, and Lucy can’t bear to have anybody prefer me to her.”
Lucy entered the living room.
“What’s this about your wanting to discharge the girl, Lucy?” he questioned. “Have you got any reason for it?”
“I certainly shouldn’t want to unless I had,” replied Lucy coldly.
“Well, Lucy, you know you acknowledged yourself that you had no proof that she took the money,” put in Nannie gently, wiping her eyes.
“Yes. I didn’t think she took it when you told me, Lucy,” supplemented John.
“It was twice—” began Lucy.
“You probably spent it and forgot all about it,” interrupted John.
“No, I didn’t.” Lucy’s tone was rebellious. “I always put down every cent I spend, and besides, I don’t like the girl anyway.”
“You’ve never liked her, Lucy,” put in Nannie again.
“Now, Lucy, you shouldn’t let personal prejudices make you unjust.” John’s manner was lofty. “If Grace has faults, speak to her about them, but don’t allow a whim to destroy the girl’s livelihood. If Nannie wants the girl to stay, surely it is a little thing to make enough effort to readjust things, instead of putting her in the street.”
“John,” Lucy began once more in a suppressed voice, “my comfort and convenience and welfare used to be enough to justify any change I saw fit to make in our home.”
“Of course I have changed you into an inconsiderate husband, John,” jeered Nannie.
“Oh, nonsense, Lucy,” answered John irritably. “You are always magnifying every suggestion into some terrible injury nowadays. You should get more sense of humor. There’s no sense or reason for discharging Grace and you shouldn’t act babyish about it.”
Lucy controlled herself with an effort. Tears stood in her eyes.
“There is a reason, more than one reason, John.”
“What?”
“Well, she is wasteful, for one thing. She uses a third more groceries than I did.”
“Rot! That’s just an excuse. You don’t like the girl because Nannie does. She’s going
