she never would grow used to the delicious idleness of it all.
During the week there were evenings that might have been as quiet
as the old evenings, nothing happened, and if anybody came in it
was only the Fieldings, or Mrs. Underhill and her son, for a game
of bridge. But domestic peace is a habit, after all, and the
Bradleys had lost the habit. Nancy was restless, beside her own
hearth, even while she spangled a gown for the Hallowe'en ball,
and discussed with Bert the details of the paper chase at the
club, and the hunt breakfast to follow. She would ask Bert what
the others were doing to-night, and would spring up full of eager
anticipation when the inevitable rap of the brass knocker came.

Saturdays and Sundays were almost always a time of complete
absorption. Everyone had company to entertain, everyone had plans.
Nancy and Bert would come gaily into their home, on a Saturday
afternoon, flushed from a luncheon party, and would entertain the
noisy crowd in the dining room. After that the chugging of motors
began again on the drive, and the watching children saw their
parents depart in a trail of gay laughter.




Chapter Twenty-four


There was a brief halt when a fourth child, Priscilla, was born.
It was in the quiet days that followed Priscilla's birth, that the
Bradleys began to look certain unpleasant facts squarely in the
face. They were running steadily deeper and deeper into debt.