“Mrs. Winter.” She stopped in front of Lucy and made a curtsey. “Hold the tray straight, John,” and she poured one of the glasses full. Lucy took it. “Do you think the mistress is pleased with us, John?” Mrs. Merwent murmured, with mock humility. “Give Jim some too, Mamma,” Lucy interrupted gently. “Wait a minute! I’m going as fast as I can, Lucy!” Nannie exclaimed with some irritation. She led John over to Jim. “Mr. Sprague,” she said with another curtsey. “Aren’t you going to have any, Mrs. Merwent?” asked Jim. “Oh, Mr. Sprague, the mistress wouldn’t like us to drink with the gentlefolk,” she answered coquettishly. “We’ll have ours later in the dining room.” “That’s right, Mary. I’m glad to see you know your place. I’m strong for the proprieties myself,” Jim responded, drinking the lemonade. “You needn’t wait, either of you,” he added, returning the glass to the tray. “When we want you we’ll ring for you.” Jim was gazing straight into Nannie’s eyes and she tittered uneasily. John laughed extravagantly. “Thank you, sir,” he said. “Come on, Nannie,” and he departed, followed by Mrs. Merwent, who glanced back covertly at Jim as she passed him. “Don’t you see, John!” Nannie exclaimed as soon as they reached the dining room. “They had rather be alone. Lucy don’t want us.” “It was only Jim’s way of joking. He didn’t mean anything,” John explained soothingly, looking worried in spite of himself, as he remembered Nannie’s enigmatic remark earlier in the evening. “Yes, he did. You didn’t see the hostile look he gave me. Lucy and he always manage to make us seem foolish!” “Now, Nannie, you’re imagining,” said John soothingly. Lucy didn’t say anything. “That’s just it!” retorted Mrs. Merwent. “She never does but she always sees to it that she and Mr. Sprague----” Nannie’s eyes and mouth opened for, chancing to turn, she saw Lucy in the doorway. “Lucy, you’re spying on us! I didn’t think you’d stoop to do a thing like that!” she cried excitedly, recovering from her surprise. “No, I wasn’t, Mamma, I came to ask you and John to come into the sitting room,” replied Lucy, eyeing her mother squarely. “I won’t stand it!” cried Nannie hysterically, and as she spoke she almost ran into the hall, and seizing a scarf as she passed the hat and umbrella stand, went out, slamming the front door behind her. John stood undecided and uneasy by the dining table. “Lucy, you oughtn’t to have come in like this without saying a word----” he faltered. “Why not?” demanded Lucy. “Because--because--Nannie wasn’t saying anything,” he stammered. Lucy turned to leave the room. “Where do you think she’s gone?” he asked nervously. “I don’t know,” replied Lucy. “Shall I go and look for her?” he continued. “I don’t know,” she repeated, and disappeared into the sitting room. As Lucy entered the room where Jim was the front door clicked after John. She seated herself in a chair near Jim.