Notwithstanding this mood, she clothed herself handsomely in a gown which lent beauty to the exceedingly dignified rôle she designed to play, and so costumed went to her aunt's room to hear the news.
Mrs. Joyce was lying down, and her voice sounded tired as she said: "We were ordered out of the house at three, and have been driving ever since. Alexander, so Marie says, has had strange men working all the afternoon on some contrivance in his study. Evidently he is going to be very scientific."
Leo exclaimed with delight. "Now we'll see if these faces and forms are real or not."
"Why, Leo! Do you doubt?"
"Yes, deep in my heart I do. I cannot quite free myself from the belief that in some way Lucy produces all these effects."
"Of course she transmits them. She's a medium."
"I don't mean it that way—and I don't mean that she cheats; but somehow I never feel as if anything real came to me direct."
Mrs. Joyce did not feel able to pursue this line of argument. "What's the matter between you and Victor?"
"Who told you anything was the matter?"
"I sensed it."