“I won’t hear you vilify your mother any longer,” John interrupted harshly. “I’m not a baby being led around by the nose, and she’s not an adventuress plotting to ruin you. If there is anything about your present situation you don’t like, you can blame yourself for it. You have sneered at her and belittled her ever since she came, and the minute you get a chance you go and tag around after your father and the woman he deserted Nannie for, and you and Miss Storms try to wean my child away from his own father and grandmother to please them. You have taken your stand with them and against us, and if you think we are going to sit by tamely and submit to it you are mightily mistaken.” John’s manner had grown more and more violent during this speech. He lifted the chair he held and struck it on the floor to emphasize each phrase, and his face was distorted with passion. “You must admit, Lucy, that this quarrel is of your own making and not our fault,” put in Nannie again. Lucy ignored her. “John, please try to think what you are saying. Oh, John, please think of me. Think of Dimmie. Don’t make things impossible for us all.” Lucy was pleading and her voice shook. She clasped and unclasped her hands nervously. “Impossible!” repeated John bitterly. “Things are already impossible. And you’ve made them impossible.” He was almost shouting. “I tell you I won’t have you ignoring my wishes and making a fool of me in my own house.” Lucy’s eyes kindled. “And I tell you I won’t have you shouting at me, John Winter. And I won’t have you treating me as though I were a servant to be dictated to. If you have no decent pride, I have. Dimmie is not far away, and Katy is in the kitchen.” “Lucy, Lucy----” interrupted Nannie. Lucy turned on her with vicious suddenness. “And you will please attend to your own business, Mother. If it includes running John’s affairs, that is no reason for its including my life. When I want your advice and interference in my relations with my husband I’ll ask you for them.” Mrs. Merwent stopped short with open mouth. “Why, Lucy----” she gasped. “Don’t speak to me,” commanded Lucy, her eyes glowing. Nannie crept closer to John and took hold of his arm. “It seems to me you ought to remember the servant yourself, Lucy,” she protested feebly. “You shall _not_ treat your mother this way!” John had raised his voice until it could be heard all over the house. “No?” Lucy inquired in a curious tone. “No, you shall not,” he repeated. “No?” she asked again in the same peculiar manner. “Lucy, Lucy, what is the matter with you?” cried Nannie hastily. “You act so strangely!” “Do I?” asked Lucy, still in a voice so unlike her usual self. “Lucy! You frighten me! Don’t look like that!” insisted Nannie nervously. “How can you look as if you hated me? Is all your love for me gone out of your heart?” Lucy began to laugh hysterically. As John and her mother appeared more and more astounded, she laughed louder and louder.