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 organdie 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.”