He sat silent for a while and she watched from the window in a strange, still way.

“It’s not right nor necessary. I wish your mother were here.”

“I wouldn’t like her to see me a failure,” said Cecily with that note of complete depression.

“Don’t be foolish. You’re not a failure. How could any one with three fine, husky children be a failure?”

“It’s not enough to make success.”

She rose after a little and offered him a cigar.

“Some Dick left.”

“He’ll be back after them,” said Mr. Warner.

She smiled, but it was a tragic little smile.

“You’ll have to smile better than that for the children.”