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‘‘A new pose； indeed！'' she muttered； with some
asperity。 ‘‘Just as if there could be a _new_ pose
after all those she tried last year！''
Immediately after luncheon Pete and Eliza
started for South Boston to pay a visit to Eliza's
mother； and it was soon after they left the house
that Bertram called his wife up again。
‘‘Say； dearie； I forgot to tell you；'' he began；
‘‘but I met an old friend in the subway this
morning； and Iwell； I remembered what you
said about bringing 'em home to dinner next
time； so I asked him for to…night。 Do you mind？
It's''
‘‘Mind？ Of course not！ I'm glad you did；''
plunged in Billy； with feverish eagerness。 （Even
now； just the bare mention of anything connected
with that awful ‘‘test'' night was enough to set
Billy's nerves to tingling。） ‘‘I want you to always
bring them home； Bertram。''
‘‘All right； dear。 We'll be there at six o'clock
then。 It'sit's Calderwell； this time。 You
remember Calderwell； of course。''
‘‘Not_Hugh_ Calderwell？'' Billy's question
was a little faint。
‘‘Sure！'' Bertram laughed oddly； and lowered
his voice。 ‘‘I suspect _once_ I wouldn't have
brought him home to you。 I was too jealous。
But nowwell； now maybe I want him to see
what he's lost。''
‘‘_Bertram！_''
But Bertram only laughed mischievously； and
called a gay ‘‘Good…by till to…night； then！''
Billy； at her end of the wires； hung up the
receiver and backed against the wall a little
palpitatingly。
Calderwell！ To dinnerCalderwell！ Did
she remember Calderwell？ Did she； indeed！ As
if one could easily forget the man that； for a year
or two； had proposed marriage as regularly （and
almost as lightly！） as he had torn a monthly leaf
from his calendar！ Besides； was it not he； too；
who had said that Bertram would never love any
girl； _really_； that it would be only the tilt of her
chin or the turn of her head that he lovedto
paint？ And now he was coming to dinnerand
with Bertram。
Very well； he should see！ He should see that
Bertram _did_ love her； _her_not the tilt of her
chin nor the turn of her head。 He should see how
happy they were； what a good wife she made； and
how devoted and _satisfied_ Bertram was in his
home。 He should see！ And forthwith Billy
picked up her skirts and tripped up…stairs to select
her very prettiest house…gown to do honor to the
occasion。 Up…stairs； however； one thing and another
delayed her； so that it was four o'clock when
she turned her attention to her toilet； and it was
while she was hesitating whether to be stately
and impressive in royally sumptuous blue velvet
and ermine； or cozy and tantalizingly homy｛sic｝ in
bronze…gold crpe de Chine and swan's…down；
that the telephone bell rang again。
Eliza and Pete had not yet returned； so； as
before； Billy answered it。 This time Eliza's
shaking voice came to her。
‘‘Is that you； ma'am？''
‘‘Why； yes； Eliza？''
‘‘Yes'm； it's me； ma'am。 It's about Uncle
Pete。 He's give us a turn that's 'most scared us
out of our wits。''
‘‘Pete！ You mean he's sick？''
‘‘Yes； ma'am； he was。 That is； he is； too
only he's better； now； thank goodness；'' panted
Eliza。 ‘‘But he ain't hisself yet。 He's that white
and shaky！ Would youcould youthat is；
would you mind if we didn't come back till into
the evenin'； maybe？''
‘‘Why； of course not；'' cried Pete's mistress；
quickly。 ‘‘Don't come a minute before he's able；
Eliza。 Don't come until to…morrow。''
Eliza gave a trembling little laugh。
‘‘Thank you； ma'am； but there wouldn't be
no keepin' of Uncle Pete here till then。 If he
could take five steps alone he'd start now。 But
he can't。 He says he'll be all right pretty quick；
though。 He's had 'em beforethese spells
but never quite so bad as this； I guess； an' he's
worryin' somethin' turrible 'cause he can't start
for home right away。''
‘‘Nonsense！'' cut in Mrs。 Bertram Henshaw。
‘‘Yes'm。 I knew you'd feel that way；''
stammered Eliza； gratefully。 ‘‘You see； I couldn't
leave him to come alone； and besides； anyhow；
I'd have to stay； for mother ain't no more use
than a wet dish…rag at such times； she's that
scared herself。 And she ain't very well； too。 So
ifif you _could_ get along''
‘‘Of course we can！ And tell Pete not to
worry one bit。 I'm so sorry he's sick！''
‘‘Thank you； ma'am。 Then we'll be there
some time this evenin'；'' sighed Eliza。
From the telephone Billy turned away with a
troubled face。
‘‘Pete _is_ ill；'' she was saying to herself。 ‘‘I
don't like the looks of it； and he's so faithful he'd
come if'' With a little cry Billy stopped
short。 Then； tremblingly； she sank into the
nearest chair。 ‘‘Calderwelland he's coming to
_dinner！_'' she moaned。
For two benumbed minutes Billy sat staring
at nothing。 Then she ran to the telephone and
called the Annex。
Aunt Hannah answered。
‘‘Aunt Hannah； for heaven's sake； if you love
me；'' pleaded Billy； ‘‘send Rosa down instanter！
Pete is sick over to South Boston； and Eliza is
with him； and Bertram is bringing Hugh Calderwell
home to dinner。 _Can_ you spare Rosa？''
‘‘Oh； my grief and conscience； Billy！ Of course
I canI mean I couldbut Rosa isn't here；
dear child！ It's her day out； you know。''
‘‘O dear； of course it is！ I might have known；
if I'd thought； but Pete and Eliza have spoiled
me。 They never take days out at meal time
both together； I meanuntil to…night。''
‘‘But； my dear child； what will you do？''
‘‘I don't know。 I've got to think。 I _must_ do
something！''
‘‘Of course you must！ I'd come over myself
if it wasn't for my cold。''
‘‘As if I'd let you！''
‘‘There isn't anybody here； only Tommy。
Even Alice is gone。 Oh； Billy； Billy； this only
goes to prove what I've always said； that _no_
woman _ought_ to be a wife until she's an efficient
housekeeper； and''
‘‘Yes； yes； Aunt Hannah； I know；'' moaned
Billy； frenziedly。 ‘‘But I am a wife； and I'm not
an efficient housekeeper； and Hugh Calderwell
won't wait for me to learn。 He's coming to…night。
_To…night！_ And I've got to do something。 Never
mind。 I'll fix it some way。 Good…by！''
‘‘But； Billy； Billy！ Oh； my grief and conscience；''
fluttered Aunt Hannah's voice across
the wires as Billy snapped the receiver into
place。
For the second time that day Billy backed
palpitatingly against the wall。 Her eyes sought
the clock fearfully。
Fifteen minutes past four。 She had an hour and
three quarters。 She could； of course； telephone
Bertram to dine Calderwell at a club or some
hotel。 But to do this now； the very first time；
when it had been her own suggestion that he
‘‘bring them home''no； no； she could not do
that！ Anything but that！ Besides； very likely
she could not reach Bertram； anyway。 Doubtless
he had left the Winthrops' by this