“Good-bye, Miss Nannie. I hopes you all has a fine trip,” Katy responded, smiling her widest. “I’m going to carry down your grips,” declared John. And he and Mrs. Merwent mounted the stairs together. “The last time!” she breathed. As they turned to quit her room she stared around her. “I’m so sorry to leave it,” she murmured, her eyes dim. John bit his lips. Nannie removed the rosebud which she had pinned to her travelling suit. “Wear it for me, John,” she sighed as she thrust it into the lapel of his coat. He picked up the satchel and suit case and went out. As the automobile moved off Nannie gazed back long and solemnly at the house. With the exception of Dimmie, who was still clamoring to go on the train with his grandmother, the party of four was silent during the ride. Once inside the station John excused himself. “Stay here a minute and I’ll get the tickets,” he instructed the women. “Buy me a small box of candy, too, John,” Nannie requested. “All right,” he acceded. He soon returned carrying several magazines, a basket of fruit, a bunch of carnations, and the box of chocolates Nannie had requested. During his absence Miss Powell had joined Lucy and Nannie. She greeted him affably as he approached the little group. “Good morning. You look like a regular Santa Claus,” she smiled, extending her hand as John raised his hat. “Where’s Mr. Sprague? Didn’t he come?” “Oh, no,” interrupted Nannie. “Mr. Sprague doesn’t put himself out for _everybody_ in the family.” John handed over the tickets, the flowers, and the parcels. “How lovely!” Nannie whispered, burying her nose in the bouquet. “Here, Jimmie.” She bestowed the box of sweetmeats on the child. “Don’t forget Nannie, will you, darling?” “I want to go with you,” he stated, holding tightly to the box. “Here, Nannie, you’re not treating yourself fair,” objected John. “If you ladies will excuse me again?” He bowed interrogatively toward Miss Powell. “Certainly,” smiled the lady. “You aren’t going to allow Mrs. Merwent to deny herself, are you?” “No,” said John. He walked across the waiting room to a fruit stand on the other side. When he came back he presented Nannie with a box of bonbons three or four times the size of the package she had given Dimmie. “So you are going away, Mrs. Merwent?” resumed Miss Powell, after she and Nannie had expatiated on the dimensions of the sweetmeat box. “I hope you’ve had a pleasant visit. It has been so nice for Mrs. Winter to have had you with her. You’ll come back every year, I hope. When you return we must see more of each other.” Nannie smiled graciously. “Mother is going to be married,” announced Lucy suddenly. Mrs. Merwent looked up quickly, then averted her face, and finally glanced at John. His air indicated that he was furious. “Why, Lucy! Why--why, you mustn’t believe everything my daughter says, Miss Powell.” Nannie laughed nervously.