She wore an elaborate white _lingérie_ dress with a wide lavender sash. She had just cut some lilacs from the bush under the dining room window and as she mounted the steps she held them out for him to admire. “I won’t offer you any more flowers, Mr. Sprague,” she began, referring to the incident of the _boutonnière_ on the occasion of his first visit. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Merwent. They are certainly pretty,” Jim answered without returning her smile. “They would go well with your grey suit too,” she persisted teasingly. Jim was very careful of his attire but shy of personalities of any nature. He ignored Mrs. Merwent’s remark and turned to John who had just emerged from the house. “Hello, John,” he called. “Where’s Lucy?” “In the kitchen as usual.” John laughed. “She seems to have adopted cooking as her life work lately. It’s a good thing I have Nannie to console me.” Jim scrutinized John but did not speak. The three made their way to the living room. “Hello, Uncle Jim! The cookies are made in stars!” Dimmie cried, rushing up to Jim and embracing his knees. “Everything seems to be in gala array,” Jim observed, looking around the room and noticing a bowl of violets and narcissi, and two or three bunches of lilacs on the piano and mantel shelf. “Nannie is a real artist at arranging flowers, Jim,” John declared admiringly. Mrs. Merwent smiled. “With John’s pictures the house hardly needs any other decoration,” she began. “I think they’re----” “Come and see Mamma, Uncle Jim,” Dimmie begged, tugging at Jim’s trouser leg. “Did she tell you to call him, Jimmie?” Nannie inquired quickly. “Come on, Uncle Jim,” Dimmie begged, not heeding his grandmother. “Answer Nannie, Dimmie,” commanded John sternly. “She won’t say my name,” protested Dimmie. “Do what I tell you. Answer Nannie.” “Now, John, I’m sure Jimmie doesn’t mean to be rude.” “Well, he’s got to learn not to be.” “I want to go back to Mamma,” wailed Dimmie. “Come along, kid,” Jim said, as though he were oblivious to the discussion between John and Nannie. He lifted the child to his shoulder and the two left the room. “Of course he has to go to Lucy as soon as he gets here. There are few men as big souled as you, John, who wouldn’t resent such devotion to their wives.” “I don’t know what you mean, Nannie.” John looked at Mrs. Merwent in a worried, perplexed way. “Of course you don’t, you great-hearted fellow! Suppose we go out on the veranda until tea is ready.” Not long after Lucy sent Dimmie to call them in. Nannie and John praised the hot biscuit and fricasseed chicken. When tea was over they returned to the living room leaving Jim and Lucy still at the table. “I’m going to sing the new song John brought me,” Nannie explained as she went out. “Let’s go too so we can hear better,” said Lucy to Jim.