“Yes, for the Lord’s sake!” exclaimed John. “Let’s quit stewing. We’re no poorer than we’ve always been,” he finished, as though dismissing the subject, “and we have some schemes on hand at the office that ought to net us a good thing during the next few months.” “I’m sure you work too hard down at that old office, poor boy,” and Nannie timidly put back from John’s forehead the lock of hair which he had disarranged while talking. “I like the work.” “And you ought to be better paid for it,” Nannie went on. “We have hopes,” smiled John. “I don’t believe in women interfering in business, but if you went into something for yourself, don’t you think you could make more? As it is, you work yourself nearly to death, and Mr. Sprague gets half the profits.” Nannie’s voice and manner were very gentle. “I’ve never thought about it,” John replied, rumpling his hair again. “I’m sure it would be a great mistake,” advised Lucy quickly. “Why?” inquired Nannie, looking at John. “In the first place, it wouldn’t be right,” argued Lucy, somewhat eagerly, “after all Jim has done for us--for John--it would be----” “Disloyal, I suppose,” said Nannie, supplying the word as Lucy hesitated, and appearing amused. “Yes, disloyal,” repeated Lucy emphatically. “Mr. Sprague certainly has a good friend in Lucy,” Nannie spoke to John. Lucy flushed again. Her eyes flashed but she made no verbal retort. “Is that your only reason, Lucy?” pursued Nannie in a purring tone. “No!” Lucy’s attitude was almost defiant. “It’s not. Jim’s ability and judgment are worth a great deal in any business, and it would be foolish to----” “I suppose, then, you think John is not capable of running a business for himself,” interposed Nannie accusingly before Lucy had finished speaking. “Lucy is not very flattering.” John’s lip curled slightly. He produced a cigarette from his case. “But I guess I’d probably have found some way to support her, even if I had never known Jim.” “Do you really think so, John?” asked Nannie ironically. “Don’t you?” challenged John, half laughing. “You dear boy, you know I think you could do anything,” she responded, squeezing his arm. “Shall we go in and try the music now?” “Come on,” urged John, stopping, however, to light his cigarette. They went into the living room. Lucy remained seated in the same position, a baffled expression on her face. Dimmie had gone to sleep in a chair and a few moments later she lifted him to her shoulder and carried him upstairs to bed. She did not return. XIX “John said he was going to Benton Harbor today,” Nannie observed to Lucy, who was seated near a window, darning Dimmie’s socks. She had just washed her hair and come down to the sunny dining room to dry it. “Did he?” Lucy raised her eyes in involuntary surprise, but glanced quickly down at her sewing. “Yes,” continued Nannie, seating herself in a comfortable rocker. “He is going to see somebody about a house decoration contract.”