* * * * * It was evening when Lucy returned from the city. On the train she encountered Mrs. Hamilton who had invited Dimmie to take tea with Stella. John and Jim had already arrived and were smoking in the dining room when Lucy came back from the Hamiltons’ where she had left Dimmie. Nannie, in a careful toilette with a rose in her hair, was chatting and laughing in the highest of spirits. “Hello, Lucy!” exclaimed Jim cordially, rising and shaking hands. “How are you?” “Oh, I’m all right,” Lucy told him, smiling. “You’re not looking any too well,” he observed, glancing at her face. “Well, I’m feeling fine, anyway.” “Where’s Dimmie?” he inquired. “He’s gone out to tea.” “Getting to be quite a swell.” Jim smiled affectionately. “Yes, and with a young lady, too,” she laughed. “Mr. Sprague, I was talking to you,” interrupted Nannie, pouting. “Beg your pardon, Mrs. Merwent,” said Jim, hastily resuming his chair. “Oh, don’t apologize. I don’t expect to compete with Lucy,” she declared with the sweetest intonation of voice. Jim colored. “What were we talking about?” he asked, straightening his cravat. “There! That shows how much attention you pay to _me_,” she gibed. “Come on, John! Let’s leave them together.” She rose and moved toward the living room. “Well, dinner’s ready, so there’s no use in your taking John away,” remarked Lucy, without heat. And the four sat down at the table. “It’s been a long time since you were here, Mr. Sprague,” began Nannie in a sprightly manner as she was serving the soup. “Yes,” conceded Jim. “You used to come out at least once every week before I came, so Lucy tells me, and always stayed all night, and sometimes over Sunday.” “I have been very busy lately.” Jim’s tone was defensive and he glanced at Lucy. “And very successful lately, I believe,” Nannie continued. “You made a fine deal yesterday, didn’t you? John told me all about it.” “Yes--it was a good deal.” Jim reddened again and stared at the table cloth. Lucy’s eyes were upon him. Shortly after dinner, Dimmie, escorted to the back gate by Mrs. Hamilton and Stella, came in through the kitchen. “Mrs. Hamilton brought me to the back gate,” he volunteered as he entered the dining room. Then, catching sight of Jim, he yelled, “Hello, Uncle Jim!” and rushed for his idol. “You must go to sleepy town now, dear,” suggested Lucy, a few minutes later. “Say good night.” And Dimmie obeyed reluctantly, but with a special tight hug for “Uncle Jim.” Soon the sound of Lucy’s voice as she sat upstairs singing Dimmie to sleep was heard by the trio in the dining room. “I’ve often wondered why Lucy never sang before people,” declared Jim, lighting his pipe. “She certainly has a beautiful voice.” “I gave her piano lessons for years,” answered Nannie quickly, “but she hasn’t kept it up. The reason I didn’t have her voice trained is that her ear is not true.”