Finally Nannie said warningly, “We might wake Lucy, John,” and the voices and laughter became more subdued. At last they tip-toed upstairs, where John found Lucy yet awake. He called Nannie. As she came into the bedroom, Lucy reached for a dressing sacque and threw it around her shoulders. Nannie and John sat on the edge of the bed and described the supper. “You don’t know what you missed, Lucy! We had a lobster à la Newburg, and the _best_ wine! Sparkling Burgundy, wasn’t it, John? I didn’t know you could get wine now. I never ate so much in my life. But dear John has such perfect taste in ordering refreshments! We met Miss Powell again in the restaurant,” Nannie rattled on, “and she introduced her brother. That’s how the head waiter let us have the wine. I’m going to a theatre with them next week. He’s said to be worth two million dollars.” “We missed the last train,” volunteered John. “We had the _best_ time,” declared Nannie ecstatically. “Is your head better?” John inquired of Lucy. “Yes, poor, dear Lucy! I was _so_ sorry. But I suppose you had a good time too,” Nannie finished slyly. “What do you mean, Mamma?” Nannie laughed. “Why, you and Mr. Sprague had a fine chance for a _tête-à-tête_.” “Did Jim stay long?” John asked suddenly. “No. He didn’t come in at all,” answered Lucy with forced naturalness. “Well, I must go to sleep, or I’ll look a fright in the morning. Good night, Lucy.” “Good night, Mamma.” “Good night, Nannie,” said John. “Good night, dear John,” returned Nannie. “Here, wait a minute. I’ve got to kiss you for giving me such a lovely evening,” and she suited the action to her words. Then, with a silvery, “I hope you rest well,” she tripped out of the bedroom and across the hall. “You ought to have stayed, Lucy,” remarked John, as he was preparing for bed. “We had lots of fun.” Lucy did not speak. “I would have come home with you if Jim hadn’t offered,” he went on, in the tone of one combating an argument, “but seeing that he didn’t care for any supper either, I thought there was no need for spoiling Nannie’s enjoyment. Those Hamiltons are always bragging about liking us and this is the first time we’ve ever asked anything of them as far as I know.” Lucy was still silent. John completed his preparations for bed, whistling softly one of the airs they had heard at the play. When ready, before turning off the light, he came around to Lucy’s side of the bed and bent down to kiss her. She buried her face in the pillow. “Oh, very well. Just as you like,” he said, and switched off the light. XVIII The morning after John’s theatre party Nannie breakfasted in high spirits and when she had done with her meal she made her way into the living room to practice the accompaniments to the two songs she had admired in the _Madcap Girl_, the music of which John had purchased in the theatre entrance after the performance. Dimmie was amusing himself in the hall.