“Nervous spells! A fit of dumps, you mean,” replied John. “She’s cryin’,” Dimmie explained impassively between large mouthfuls of potato. “I’ll swear life has gotten to be almost unbearable in this house,” continued John, frowning. “Not a day passes without some kind of a stunt. It’s either funereal gloom or hysterics. It’s enough to drive a man dippy.” “I know, dear.” Mrs. Merwent smiled sympathetically. “And such a thing as consideration for me never enters her head. But this deliberate disregarding of my wishes is going to be the last. She and I are going to have an understanding once for all.” John’s expression was relentless. “Now, John, dear,” remonstrated Nannie gently, “you _must_ be patient. I know it’s hard, but you know how abnormal Lucy is now. And I’m afraid it’s growing on her.” Lucy was coming down the stairs. When she reached the dining room John and Mrs. Merwent, who had heard her approach, both rose as though by a previous agreement. “Lucy,” John began in a tone that was gravely didactic, “notwithstanding the fact that your mother has pled with you not to go near those people again, to say nothing of your husband’s wishes in the matter, you have been to Miss Storms’ to see them and taken my child with you.” Lucy looked from John to her mother. Nannie’s eyelids were red but her eyes were hard and glittered brightly. Lucy’s own face was pale and she bit her lip to control its involuntary inclination to tremble. John returned her startled glance with a gaze that might have greeted a stranger. “He is my child, too, John, and his grandfather wished to see him before he left,” she said in a suppressed voice. “Didn’t I tell you not to go again?” he asked accusingly, taking no notice of her statement. His voice was unsteady and his face flushed. “You have no right to order me to do or not to do anything, John.” John’s flush grew deeper and duller. Dimmie had slid from his chair and run out to play. “I won’t have it!” John broke out violently, seizing a chair and setting it down on the floor with a bump. Lucy regarded him steadfastly. “I think it’s time you thought very seriously about what you are doing, Lucy,” advised Nannie loftily. Lucy continued to face them and spoke with self control, although the twitching of her lip was apparent. Her eyes seemed to grow wider and deeper without altering their expression. “I think it is time you two also thought very seriously about what you are doing,” she began slowly. “It seems never to have occurred to either of you that there is anybody else to consider except my mother. But I will tell you,” here Lucy raised her voice a little, “that I will not endure this kind of treatment from you two, for always. I have struggled and hoped that you, John, at least, might come to your senses and see what all this is leading to, but----”