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Still, as one saw Mrs. Brewster’s tired droop at supper that night, there is no denying that there seemed some justification for Pinky’s volcanic remarks.

Hosea Brewster announced, after supper, that he and Fred were going to have a session with the furnace; she needed going over in September before they began firing up for the winter.

“I’ll go down with you,” said Pinky.

“No, you stay up here with mother. You’ll get all ashes and coal dust. ”

But Pinky was firm. “Mother’s half dead. She’s going straight up to bed, after that darned old attic. I’ll come up to tuck you in, mummy. ”

And though she did not descend to the cellar until the overhauling process was nearly completed she did come down in time for the last of the scene. She perched at the foot of the stairs and watched the two men, overalled, sooty, tobacco-wreathed and happy. When finally, Hosea Brewster knocked the ashes out of his stubby black pipe, dusted his sooty hands together briskly and began to peel his overalls, Pinky came forward.

She put her hand on his arm. “Dad, I want to talk to you. ”

“Careful there. Better not touch me. I’m all dirt. G’night, Fred. ”

“Listen, dad. Mother isn’t well. ”

He stopped then, with one overall leg off and the other on, and looked at her. “Huh? What d’you mean—isn’t well? Mother. ” His mouth was open. His eyes looked suddenly strained.

“This house—it’s killing her. She could hardly keep here eyes open at supper. It’s too much for her. She ought to be enjoying herself—like those huge rooms. And you’re another. ”

“Me?” feebly.

“Yes. A slave to his furnace. You said yourself to Fred, just now, that it was all worn out, and needed new pipes or something—I don’t know what. And that coal was so high it would be cheaper using dollar bills for fuel. Oh, I know you were just being funny. But it was partly true. Wasn’t it? Wasn’t it?”

“Yeh, but listen here, Paula. ” He never called her Paula unless he was terribly disturbed. “About mother—you said—”

“You and she ought to go away this winter—not just for a trip, but to stay. You”—she drew a long breath and made the plunge—“you ought to give up the house. ”

“Give up—”

“Permanently. Mother and you are buried alive here. You ought to come to New York to live. Both of you will love it when you are there for a few days. I don’t mean to come to a hotel. I mean to take a little apartment, a furnished apartment at first to see how you like it—two rooms and kitchenette, like a play-house. ”

Hosey Brewster looked down at his own big bulk. Then around the great furnace room. “Oh, but listen—”

“No, I want you to listen first. Mother’s worn out, I tell you. It isn’t as if she were the old-fashioned kind; she isn’t. She loves the theatres, and pretty hats, and shoes with buckles, and lobster, and concerts. ”

He broke in again: “Sure; she likes ’em for change. But for a steady diet—Besides, I’ve got a business to ‘tend to. My gosh! I’ve got a business to—”

“You know perfectly well that Wetzler practically runs the whole thing—or could, if you’d let him. ” Youth is cruel like that, when it wants its way.

He did not even deny it. He seemed suddenly old. Pinky’s heart smote her a little. “It’s just that you’ve got so used to this great barracks you don’t know how unhappy it’s making you. Why, mother said to-day that she hated it. I asked about the attic—the cleaning and all—and she said that she hated it. ”