“I don’t want you tied up here at home all the time,” he replied. “You need a girl.” “But, John, a servant costs so much and I don’t mind the work a bit.” “No. We can’t stay shut in the house night and day. We’ll go dotty.” “All right, John. Just as you say.” Lucy sighed as she spoke. “I’m sleepy,” said Dimmie yawning. “All right, Sonny,” she said. “Kiss Papa good night.” And Lucy led the child away. John entered the living room, and, seating himself at the piano, attempted to play the accompaniment to _Ouvrez tes yeux_. When Lucy came downstairs again after putting Dimmie to bed, John rose. “Let’s walk over to the Hamiltons’ for a few minutes,” he suggested. “Why----” she began, and hesitated, adding hastily. “All right, John. Let me get a scarf from my room and speak to Katy.” In her room she scrutinized her face in the mirror. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks. She wiped the tears viciously away, and, seizing a coarse wash cloth, rubbed her cheeks fiercely until a little color appeared in them. When they arrived at the Hamiltons’ home the doctor met them at the door. “Come in,” he invited cordially. “Mrs. Hamilton is putting Stella to bed. She’ll be down in a minute. How are you feeling by this time, Mrs. Winter? You’re looking better.” “I’m feeling all right, thank you, Doctor.” Doctor Hamilton pushed forward chairs for his visitors and they seated themselves. “Your mother went away yesterday, didn’t she?” he continued. “Is she coming back soon?” “Oh, probably not till next summer, anyway,” put in John. “She’s been gone several days. She’s going to be married soon,” supplemented Lucy. John gave her a quick accusing glance. “Indeed,” commented Doctor Hamilton. Mrs. Hamilton appeared in the doorway. “Come on into the study, Mr. Winter, and smoke a cigar. We’ll leave the ladies to talk gossip,” urged the Doctor, rising. “You mean leave the ladies in order _to_ talk gossip.” Mrs. Hamilton laughed as she straightened her husband’s cravat. It was after ten o’clock when John and Lucy reached home. “Let’s go to a show tomorrow night,” he proposed as he unlocked the front door. “I’ll get the tickets when I go down town.” “All right, John,” Lucy acquiesced without demur. “We ought to get out more than we’ve been in the habit of doing,” he went on. “It’s a good thing to know more people. We have practically no friends at all.” “I don’t----” Lucy ventured. Then, checking herself, “We have a few good friends, John.” “I don’t know who they are. I don’t count Jim Sprague as a friend any more, and Miss Storms, that you used to be so crazy about, has shown herself to be a two-faced cat. The Hamiltons are all right in their way, but----” “I don’t think you are just to Miss Storms, John. She----” “Now, see here, Lucy,” John’s face began to grow red, “if you are going to stick up for that woman after all she’s done, we might as well understand each other right now. I simply won’t have you----”