to the occasion, and gave back full measure of retort. Even Pete twice had to turn his back to hide a smile, and once his hand shook so that the tea he was

spite of the young woman's gay badinage, fell to dozing in the big chair before the fire, leaving Billy with only Spunkie for company-Spunkie,

r own devices, gl

show him that she had at least got along without him as well as he had without her. At all events he would not find her forlornly sitting with her nose pressed against

ted in her chair, twisted her neck to look out

to her chair. But she did not read. Disconsolately she sat staring straight ahead-until a quick step on the sidewalk outside stirred her into instant action. Assuming a

gh she had not turned a page. The book now, however, was right side up. One by on

Uncle William, resolutely forcing him

oke with tragic distinct

ght it must be ten. Well, anyhow, I believe I'l

nly nine,' indeed!" she

Uncle Will

sit up, my dear, of

evening a cold hand seeme

at? Was she even now a wife who h

ear," advised Uncle Will

ll, yet," Billy managed to d

William wen

hich happened to be one of

ted Bertram was going to spend the whole evening as well as stay to dinner!" ran Billy's thoughts. "'The enormous quantity of bijouterie, Dresden

gay. He's down there with those men, where he wants to be. Where he'd rather be than be with me! Do you think I want him to come home and find me moping over a stupid old book? Not much! I'm goin

into the dangling balls. For a fleeting instant, even, something like mischief gleamed in her big yellow eyes. Then the jaws

the cat with re

et and went back to her chair. This time she picked up a maga

ed at the door to get Spunkie, and to see

not in yet?" he

er head with

. I expect him every

, ma'am. G

s quiet steps coming back through the hall and ascending the stairs. She listened until

t! And was this what he called dinner? Did one eat, the

nto which she had worked herself. No longer now did she wish to be gay when her husband came. No longer did she even pretend to assume indifference. Bertram had done wrong. He had been unkind, cruel, thoughtless, inconsidera

floor now, back and

ilent house Billy drew in her breath and held it suspended. A new look came to her eye

t the door quickly. Back and forth she began to pace the floor again; but in five minutes she had run to the

n the Public Garden the wind stirred the gray tree-branches and set them to casting weird shadows on the bare, frozen ground. A warning someth

oor-mat against the casing so that the door could not close. Once more she peere

ger was all gone. In Billy's mind there was not a

d! If only she could see him once. If only she could ask his forgiveness for those wicked,

her heart pounding against her side in great suffocating throbs. Nearer and nearer strode the approaching figure until Billy had almost sprung to meet it with a glad cry-alm

rstep watch with palpitating yearning a shadowy form appear, approach-and pass

le in the world!" she choked. Then, thoroughly chilled and

coat. She had forgotten to take it off. Her face was pitifully white and drawn. Her eyes were wild

two-

arp cry and ran

ould tick away through an endless existence, she would have to live-without Bertram. If only she could s

the lock, then the door swung back and Bertram,

"Why, Billy, what's the matter?" he broke

eeing only a dear, noble, adorable, lost Bertram, saw now suddenly only th

arply, then. "Is this what you call

had been, perhaps, a little conscience-smitten when he saw how late he had stayed; and he had intended to say he was sorry, of course. But to be thus sharply called to

t spoken when something in the piteously quivering chin

rling!" he mur

ed away before the dismayed tenderness in those d

ou-I-" Billy

houlder; and in the midst of broken words, kisses, gentle pats, and inarticulate croonings, th

yhow," avowed Bertram, when speech became ra

had a good time; and it was perfectly right you sho

ed Bertram, promptly,

ed him with

l have 'em come here

ill," agre

igh. Then, a little breathlessly, she added: "Anyhow,

" scolded Bertram, punctua

rew a l

going to have them often

ung husband was

d Billy, with a mischievous twinkle as she broke