"I don't confess to any special grubbiness," she said with her remorselessly exact enunciation. "Well, Nan, that's what sons do to their mothers; almost consoles me for never having had a son. Letty thinks she's perfection--that's marriage, I suppose. How do you think Letty seems?" "Wonderful--wonderfully happy, Mrs. Lewis." "She ought to be. Roger is a very splendid person." "You really like him?" "Yes," said Mrs. Lewis as one facing a possible charge of sentimentality; "yes, I really do." "No criticisms at all?" "Oh, come, Nan," answered the older woman, "remember who it is you're talking to. When you find me without criticisms you'll find me in my grave. I have endless criticism of him--of that cooing aged seraph who has just gone up to powder her elderly nose--even of my own daughter; but still, I do say that Roger is a fine man as men go--and that is saying a good deal." It was saying more than Nan had ever expected to hear Mrs. Lewis say of her son-in-law, and she was content. Presently the nose powderer came down, still cooing, and they went in to luncheon. It was a pleasant meal. The little room was full of sunlight; the Swede, though a poor linguist, was a good waitress; the food was excellent, and the talk, though not brilliant, for it was absorbed by Mrs. Rossiter, was kind and friendly; and Nan had been so many years away that she enjoyed just the sense of intimacy. They were talking about Roger--his health--how hard he worked. "I really think," said his mother, shaking her head solemnly, "that you and he ought to go abroad. I think it's your duty." "I'm not sure Roger means to take a holiday at all, Mrs. Rossiter," answered Letitia. "You see, he did take two weeks in the winter when we were married." "If that may be called a holiday," said Mrs. Lewis. No one noticed her, and Mrs. Rossiter pressed on: "Not take a holiday! Oh, Letty, he must! You must make him! He'll break down. Remember, he's only twenty-four. The strain at his age-- You agree with me, don't you, Mrs. Lewis? If you had a son of twenty-four, you would not want him to work steadily all the year round?" "If I had a son," replied Mrs. Lewis, "I should be surprised if he ever found a job. The men of my family have always been out of a job." There was a ring at the front door and the Swede went to answer it. "Now that Meta is out of the room, Lett," said her mother, "might I suggest that you never allow her to answer the telephone? She always begins the conversation by stoutly denying that anyone of your name lives here." Mrs. Rossiter gave a little scream of laughter and a gesture of her hand with the fingers self-consciously crooked. "Oh," she exclaimed, "how perfect that is! How exact!" Mrs. Lewis looked at her coldly, as much as to say she had not intended to be, and, as a matter of fact, had not been so humorous as all that.