“I wish----” began Lucy, then stopped. She stared at John and as she did so she seemed to shrink up, physically as well as spiritually, and her pupils widened. John was busy with the list and did not appear to notice. “I’ll bring Mathews out some night,” he said again. “All right, John,” she replied quite naturally. Dimmie’s manner was perplexed. “Why don’t Uncle Jim ever come any more?” he demanded. Neither of his parents answered him. Several times during the weeks that followed the query was repeated. “Dimmie, don’t ask that again!” commanded John angrily on one occasion. “He doesn’t come because he doesn’t want to.” * * * * * On the first of the month the mail brought an unusual number of bills, the largest of which was that of the caterer from whom Lucy had several times ordered cakes and ices. After dinner, while John was still seated at the table, she went to the desk in the living room and took them out. Coming back into the dining room, she laid them before him without speaking. “Well?” John glanced up at her with a resentful air. “John, _don’t_ you think I ought to send Katy away? We _oughtn’t_ to spend so much money.” There was a tremor in Lucy’s voice. “See here, Lucy, if I’m going to have to stand for curtain lectures every time I’m at home, I’m going out.” “I’m not giving curtain lectures, John.” “Well, I’m going out anyway. The atmosphere of this house is enough to drive a man to anything.” He went into the hall and seized his hat. * * * * * Lucy and Dimmie were in Lucy’s room alone. Lucy bent her head and pressed her cheek to the little boy’s hair. “Oh, Dimmie, Dimmie,” she said. “You can tell me a story,” he replied consolingly. * * * * * About one o’clock John came in. Lucy had retired, but she was still awake, and the night lamp in the adjoining room, where Dimmie slept, was burning. John’s step, as he mounted the stairs, was halting. He entered the room unsteadily, and did not greet Lucy as he opened the electric switch. When he turned toward her and she saw his flushed cheeks and dull bloodshot eyes, she buried her face in the pillows. He swore over his refractory collar as he took it off, but refrained from addressing her. Long after he lay, sleeping heavily on the pillow beside her, she remained with wide open eyes, staring at the night lamp. XXXVI It was more than a month after Nannie’s departure when Lucy visited the office again. For the trip to town, she selected a morning when John had mentioned that Jim was going out of the city for several days. She entered the office timidly. John was working at an interior decoration scheme. He glanced up as she came in but did not trouble himself with more than a greeting. She went to the window and gazed out for a time, then sat down at Jim’s desk. Suddenly Jim himself opened the door and came briskly into the office.