Primmie, returning home with the sensation, was disappointed to find it no sensation at all.  Lulie had told both Miss Phipps and Galusha shortly after Nelson told her.  She had told her father also, but he had not expressed gratification.  Instead, the interview between them had ended unpleasantly.

“The first thing he did,” said Lulie, when telling the story to her confidants at the Phipps’ home, “was to ask me how I knew about it.  I told him that Nelson told me.”

Martha lifted her brows.  “My!” she exclaimed.  “You did?”

“Yes, I did.  I don’t know why exactly.  Somehow I felt just then as if I didn’t care.”

“And what did he say?”

“He didn’t say as much as I thought he would.  He turned and stared at me under those big eyebrows of his, and then he said:  ’When did you see him?’ I said, ‘Yesterday.’  ’When did you see him before that?’ I said, ’About a week ago.  Nelson and I usually see each other about once a week, father,’ I told him.”

“My!” exclaimed Martha, again.  “That was plain enough, to be sure.”

“Yes, wasn’t it?  I wonder now that I had the courage.  He didn’t flare up as I expected he would, as I am sure he would have done last fall, for instance.  He just looked and looked at me.  Then he said:  ‘Are you really planning to marry that fellow, Lulie?’ I thought that as I had gone so far, I might as well go the rest, so I said:  ’Yes, father, some day.  Not as long as you want me or need me, but some day, if he is willing to wait for me.’  He just kept on pulling his beard and looking at me.  At last, when he did speak, he asked, ‘In spite of me and—­and your mother?’ It made me feel dreadfully wicked; I almost cried, I guess.  But I had to go through with it then, so I said:  ’I don’t want to marry “in spite” of any one, father.  You know I don’t.  And I shall never leave you—­never.  But can’t you please see Nelson as he is and not—­and not—­’ He interrupted me there; in fact, I doubt if he heard me.  ‘Your mother has warned me against that young fellow,’ he said.  ‘You know she has, Lulie.’  ‘I know you think she has, father,’ I said.”

Martha’s hands fell in her lap.  Galusha shook his head.

“Dear me!” he observed.  “Dear me!”

Lulie nodded.  “Yes, I know,” she said.  “As soon as I said it I thought ‘Dear me,’ too.  But I don’t believe he heard that, either.  He seemed to be thinking and didn’t speak for ever so long.  Then he said, ’The revelations from above ain’t to be set aside.  No, no, they lay a duty on us.’  Then he stopped again and turned and walked away.  The last words he said, as he was going out of the room, were, ’Don’t let me ever see that Howard around this house.  You hear me?’ And that is the way it ended.  He hasn’t mentioned the subject since.  But, at least,” said Lulie, with an attempt at a smile, “he didn’t call Nelson a ‘swab.’  I suppose that is some comfort.”