Entering the hall, she almost ran up the stairs. In her room she removed her gloves but left her hat on, and, without even glancing in the mirror, sat down to write a letter.
The missive was quickly finished and addressed to Professor Walsh. She then took up her gloves once more and descended to the street, dropping the envelope in the nearest post box. After noting the time of the next mail collection, she returned slowly to the house.
Katy appeared somewhat surprised at being summoned to the door by Mrs. Merwent a second time. Nannie made no remark.
On reaching her room she now removed hat and gloves and carefully touched up her rouge, washed her hands, and repolished her nails. Making her way to the dining room she encountered Lucy.
“You’re back early, Mamma,” Lucy commented when she saw Nannie. “Did you get the underwear you wanted?”
“No,” sighed her mother sadly. “It was all gone when I got to the store, so I came right back.” She stared at Lucy’s hair, which was arranged with more care than usual, and at the white organdy dress which was only donned occasionally. “You must be expecting Mr. Sprague out tonight, Lucy,” she gibed, viciously. “Well, don’t accuse me of being the only one weak enough to care about my looks.”
“I don’t, Mamma.” There was a barely perceptible tremor in Lucy’s voice, but her manner was as calm and unswerving as ever.
Mrs. Merwent walked to the window and stood gazing at the gnarled elm tree and Dimmie’s dangling swing. She passed her hand over her forehead several times and tapped her foot uneasily on the floor.
“Don’t you feel well?” Lucy inquired at last.
Nannie turned and her eyes were full of tears.
“Oh, Lucy,” she cried piteously, “you haven’t meant all the terrible things you’ve said, have you? We’ve got nobody in the world but each other, and—it hurts me so for there to be any kind of hard feelings!”
Lucy hesitated only an instant.
“I don’t think there are any hard feelings, Mamma,” she replied. Her voice was low. Her eyes rested on Dimmie, who was looking at a picture book as he lay stretched on his stomach on the floor beside her.
Nannie came over and knelt by her daughter.
“Kiss me, Lucy! Oh, Lucy, I couldn’t bear to go away so misjudged and—” Mrs. Merwent broke off her speech with a half sob.
Dimmie, laying aside his book, sat up and regarded the two with interest.
“You aren’t going away, Mamma,” Lucy said, trying to make her tone matter of fact, and at the same time submitting to her mother’s kiss. Her breast heaved and two vivid spots of color tinged her cheeks.
“Oh, Lucy, you don’t want me to go! Say you don’t want me to go!” Nannie implored.
“Why, no‑o, Mamma,” Lucy answered reluctantly, moistening her lips. “I thought that was all settled,” she added. “I didn’t know that—” She stopped speaking and regarded her mother with eager surprise.
Nannie rose to her feet.
“I have made up my mind to go. Of course I’m glad you’ll miss me, and I shall leave without any hard feelings. But I’ve been so misunderstood, and now that I—” She clasped and unclasped her hands.
“But where can you go? You can’t go back to Cousin Minnie.” Lucy’s tone was strange. She caressed Dimmie’s hair with trembling fingers and avoided her mother’s glance.
“No, Lucy. I certainly couldn’t accept Minnie Sheldon’s charity again, after the way she has treated me.”
Lucy stood up too. Her eyes were very bright. Involuntarily she put one hand on her bosom. Nannie watched her.
“Oh, Lucy, I want to be loved! I want to be loved!” Nannie protested suddenly, dissolving into tears again.
Placing one arm about her mother’s shoulders, Lucy’s eyes sought Dimmie across Nannie’s bent head.
“So do I,” she murmured fervently, almost as if to herself.
“What makes you look so nice?” Dimmie asked Lucy suddenly.
Mrs. Merwent lifted her head.
“You’re not glad I’m going away! Oh, Jimmie, you don’t want Nannie to go, do you?”
He jumped up and ran to her.
“When Nannie goes away on the cars, do you want to go with her? I’ve got some more chocolate drops upstairs,” she whispered.
“You bet I would!” he replied enthusiastically. “Where are they?”
“Don’t give him candy just before meals, Mamma,” Lucy requested gently.
“Oh, it won’t hurt this time. I’m going upstairs and I’ll get them.”
“I’m so afraid it’ll make him sick,” remonstrated Lucy. “Here, Son, wait till after dinner. Don’t eat them now. Be a good boy.”
“No,” returned Dimmie rebelliously, backing away from his mother. “I want ’em now. Please get ’em, Nannie.”
“We must mind Mamma or she’ll be angry. Because I’m going away, you know, Jimmie. Wait a minute, dear. Dinner’ll soon be ready, and I’ll take you on the train with me if you’re a good boy.”
Dimmie compromised without further parley.
When John arrived Lucy greeted him with suppressed excitement, but he seemed to observe nothing unusual. Dinner was served. Nannie entered the dining room smiling mournfully, and placed a rose at his plate.
“Did you get your shopping done?” he queried.
“No,” she responded. “I didn’t get what I wanted and came back early.”
After a few moment’s silence John laid down his knife and fork.
“What’s the matter, Nannie? You’re not eating anything,” he commented.
“Mamma ain’t eatin’ nothin’ neither,” observed Dimmie.
“Yes, I am.” Lucy hastily took up her knife and fork.
“Why, I’m eating as much as usual, John.” Nannie resumed her meal. “You know I never eat very heartily. Did you have a hard day at the office?”
“No, indeed,” John declared. “I’m feeling fine. When shall we go and see the sculptures?”
Mrs. Merwent was neglecting her food again, and seemed not to hear. She wiped her eyes furtively.
“Why don’t you answer, Nannie?” he insisted reproachfully. “I asked you when you wanted to go and see the sculptures. And you aren’t eating again. What’s the
