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‘‘Quite convenient。 I shall be glad to see
you；'' smiled Billy。 And Bertram echoed his
wife's cordial permission。
‘‘Thank you。 Then I'll be there at half…past
three；'' nodded Miss Winthrop； with a smile； as
she turned to give place to an admiring group；
who were waiting to pay their respects to the
artist and his wife。
There was； after all； that evening； one fly in
Billy's ointment。
It fluttered in at the behest of an old
acquaintanceone of the ‘‘advice women；'' as
Billy termed some of her too interested
friends。
‘‘Well； they're lovely； perfectly lovely； of
course； Mrs。 Henshaw；'' said this lady； coming up
to say good…night。 ‘‘But； all the samee｛sic｝； I'm
glad my husband is just a plain lawyer。 Look
out； my dear； that while Mr。 Henshaw is stealing
all those pretty faces for his canvasesjust look
out that the fair ladies don't turn around and steal
his heart before you know it。 Dear me； but you
must be so proud of him！''
‘‘I am；'' smiled Billy； serenely； and only the
jagged split that rent the glove on her hand； at
that moment； told of the fierce anger behind that
smile。
‘‘As if I couldn't trust Bertram！'' raged Billy
passionately to herself； stealing a surreptitious
glance at her ruined glove。 ‘‘And as if there
weren't ever any perfectly happy marriages
even if you don't ever hear of them； or read of
them！''
Bertram was not home to luncheon on the day
following the opening night of the Bohemian Ten
Club。 A matter of business called him away
from the house early in the morning； but he
told his wife that he surely would be on hand for
Miss Winthrop's call at half…past three o'clock
that afternoon。
‘‘Yes； do；'' Billy had urged。 ‘‘I think she's
lovely； but you know her so much better than I
do that I want you here。 Besides； you needn't
think _I'm_ going to show her all those Billys of
yours。 I may be vain； but I'm not quite vain
enough for that； sir！''
‘‘Don't worry；'' her husband had laughed。
‘‘I'll be here。''
As it chanced； however； something occurred
an hour before half…past three o'clock that drove
every thought of Miss Winthrop's call from
Billy's head。
For three days； now； Pete had been at the home
of his niece in South Boston。 He had been forced；
finally； to give up and go away。 News from him
the day before had been anything but reassuring；
and to…day； Bertram being gone； Billy had suggested
that Eliza serve a simple luncheon and go
immediately afterward to South Boston to see
how her uncle was。 This suggestion Eliza had
followed； leaving the house at one o'clock。
Shortly after two Calderwell had dropped in
to bring Bertram； as he expressed it； a bunch of
bouquets he had gathered at the picture show
the night before。 He was still in the drawing…
room； chatting with Billy； when the telephone
bell rang。
‘‘If that's Bertram； tell him to come home；
he's got company；'' laughed Calderwell； as Billy
passed into the hall。
A moment later he heard Billy give a startled
cry； followed by a few broken words at short
intervals。 Then； before he could surmise what had
happened； she was back in the drawing…room
again； her eyes full of tears。
‘‘It's Pete；'' she choked。 ‘‘Eliza says he can't
live but a few minutes。 He wants to see me once
more。 What shall I do？ John's got Peggy out
with Aunt Hannah and Mrs。 Greggory。 It was so
nice to…day I made them go。 But I must get
there some wayPete is calling for me。 Uncle
William is going； and I told Eliza where she might
reach Bertram； but what shall _I_ do？ How shall
I go？''
Calderwell was on his feet at once。
‘‘I'll get a taxi。 Don't worrywe'll get
there。 Poor old soulof course he wants to see
you！ Get on your things。 I'll have it here in no
time；'' he finished； hurrying to the telephone。
‘‘Oh； Hugh； I'm so glad I've got _you_ here；''
sobbed Billy； stumbling blindly toward the
stairway。 ‘‘I'll be ready in two minutes。''
And she was； but neither then； nor a little later
when she and Calderwell drove hurriedly away
from the house； did Billy once remember that
Miss Marguerite Winthrop was coming to call
that afternoon to see Mrs。 Bertram Henshaw and
a roomful of Billy pictures。
Pete was still alive when Calderwell left Billy
at the door of the modest little home where
Eliza's mother lived。
‘‘Yes； you're in time； ma'am；'' sobbed Eliza；
‘‘and； oh； I'm so glad you've come。 He's been
askin' and askin' for ye。''
From Eliza Billy learned then that Mr。 William
was there； but not Mr。 Bertram。 They had not
been able to reach Mr。 Bertram； or Mr。 Cyril。
Billy never forgot the look of reverent adoration
that came into Pete's eyes as she entered the
room where he lay。
‘‘Miss Billymy Miss Billy！ You were so
good…to come；'' he whispered faintly。
Billy choked back a sob。
‘‘Of course I'd come； Pete；'' she said gently；
taking one of the thin； worn hands into both her
soft ones。
It was more than a few minutes that Pete lived。
Four o'clock came； and five； and he was still with
them。 Often he opened his eyes and smiled。
Sometimes he spoke a low word to William or
Billy； or to one of the weeping women at the foot
of the bed。 That the presence of his beloved
master and mistress meant much to him was
plain to be seen。
‘‘I'm so sorry；'' he faltered once； ‘‘about that
pretty dressI spoiled； Miss Billy。 But you
knowmy hands''
‘‘I know； I know；'' soothed Billy； ‘‘but don't
worry。 It wasn't spoiled； Pete。 It's all fixed
now。''
‘‘Oh； I'm so glad；'' sighed the sick man。 After
another long interval of silence he turned to
William。
‘‘Them socksthe medium thin onesyou'd
oughter be puttin' 'em on soon； sir； now。 They're
in the right…hand corner of the bottom drawer
you know。''
‘‘Yes； Pete； I'll attend to it；'' William managed
to stammer； after he had cleared his throat。
Eliza's turn came next。
‘‘Remember about the coffee；'' Pete said to
her； ‘‘the way Mr。 William likes it。 And always
eggs； you know； forfor'' His voice
trailed into an indistinct murmur； and his eyelids
drooped wearily。
One by one the minutes passed。 The doctor
came and went： there was nothing he could do。
At half…past five the thin old face became again
alight with consciousness。 There was a good…by
message for Bertram； and one for Cyril。 Aunt
Hannah was remembered； and even little Tommy
Dunn。 Then； gradually； a gray shadow crept
over the wasted features。 The words came more
brokenly。 The mind； plainly； was wandering；
for old Pete was young again； and around him
were the lads he loved； William； Cyril； and
Bertram。 And then； very quietly； soon after the
clock struck six； Pete fell into the beginning of
his long sleep。
CHAPTER XIV
WHEN BERTRAM CAME HOME
It was a little after half…past