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not imagine。 He thought； once or twice； of
calling up some of her friends； but something
held him back from thatthough he did try to
get Marie； knowing very well that she was probably
over to the new house and would not answer。
He was not surprised； therefore； when he received
no reply to his ring。
That there was the slightest truth in Bessie
Bailey's absurd ‘‘elopement'' idea； Bertram did
not； of course； for an instant believe。 The only
thing that rankled about that was the fact that
she had suggested such a thing； and that Miss
Winthrop and those silly children had heard
her。 He recognized half of Bessie's friends as
neighborhood youngsters； and he knew very well
that there would be many a quiet laugh at his
expense around various Beacon Street dinner…
tables that night。 At the thought of those
dinner…tables； he scowled again。 _He_ had no
dinner…tableat least； he had no dinner on it！
Who the man might be Bertram thought he
could easily guess。 It was either Arkwright or
Calderwell； of course； and probably that tiresome
Alice Greggory was mixed up in it somehow。
He did wish Billy
Six o'clock came； then half…past。 Bertram was
indeed frightened now； but he was more angry；
and still more hungry。 He had； in fact； reached
that state of blind unreasonableness said to be
peculiar to hungry males from time immemorial。
At ten minutes of seven a key clicked in the
lock of the outer door； and William and Billy
entered the hall。
It was almost dark。 Bertram could not see
their faces。 He had not lighted the hall at all。
‘‘Well；'' he began sharply； ‘‘is this the way
you receive your callers； Billy？ I came home
and found Miss Winthrop just leavingno one
here to receive her！ Where've you been？ Where's
Eliza？ Where's my dinner？ Of course I don't
mean to scold； Billy； but there is a limit to even
my patienceand it's reached now。 I can't
help suggesting that if you would tend to your
husband and your home a little more； and go
gallivanting off with Calderwell and Arkwright
and Alice Greggory a little less； that Where is
Eliza； anyway？'' he finished irritably； switching
on the lights with a snap。
There was a moment of dead silence。 At
Bertram's first words Billy and William had
stopped short。 Neither had moved since。 Now
William turned and began to speak； but Billy
interrupted。 She met her husband's gaze steadily。
‘‘I will be down at once to get your dinner；''
she said quietly。 ‘‘Eliza will not come to…night。
Pete is dead。''
Bertram started forward with a quick cry。
‘‘Dead！ Oh； Billy！ Then you were_there！_
Billy！''
But his wife did not apparently hear him。 She
passed him without turning her head； and went
on up the stairs； leaving him to meet the sorrowful；
accusing eyes of William。
CHAPTER XV
AFTER THE STORM
The young husband's apologies were profuse
and abject。 Bertram was heartily ashamed of
himself； and was man enough to acknowledge it。
Almost on his knees he begged Billy to forgive
him； and in a frenzy of self…denunciation he
followed her down into the kitchen that night；
piteously beseeching her to speak to him； to just
_look_ at him； even； so that he might know he was
not utterly despisedthough he did； indeed；
deserve to be more than despised； he moaned。
At first Billy did not speak； or even vouchsafe
a glance in his direction。 Very quietly she went
about her preparations for a simple meal； paying
apparently no more attention to Bertram than as
if he were not there。 But that her ears were only
seemingly； and not really deaf； was shown very
clearly a little later； when； at a particularly abject
wail on the part of the babbling shadow at her
heels； Billy choked into a little gasp； half laughter；
half sob。 It was all over then。 Bertram had
her in his arms in a twinkling； while to the floor
clattered and rolled a knife and a half…peeled
baked potato。
Naturally； after that； there could be no more
dignified silences on the part of the injured wife。
There were； instead； half…smiles； tears； sobs； a
tremulous telling of Pete's going and his messages；
followed by a tearful listening to Bertram's story
of the torture he had endured at the hands of
Miss Winthrop； Bessie Bailey； and an empty；
dinnerless house。 And thus； in one corner of the
kitchen； some time later； a hungry； desperate
William found them； the half…peeled； cold baked
potato still at their feet。
Torn between his craving for food and his
desire not to interfere with any possible peace…
making； William was obviously hesitating what
to do； when Billy glanced up and saw him。 She
saw； too； at the same time； the empty； blazing
gas…stove burner； and the pile of half…prepared
potatoes； to warm which the burner had long
since been lighted。 With a little cry she broke
away from her husband's arms。
‘‘Mercy！ and here's poor Uncle William；
bless his heart； with not a thing to eat yet！''
They all got dinner then； together； with many
a sigh and quick…coming tear as everywhere they
met some sad reminder of the gentle old hands
that would never again minister to their comfort。
It was a silent meal； and little； after all； was
eaten； though brave attempts at cheerfulness
and naturalness were made by all three。 Bertram；
especially； talked； and tried to make sure
that the shadow on Billy's face was at least not
the one his own conduct had brought there。
‘‘For you doyou surely do forgive me； don't
you？'' he begged； as he followed her into the
kitchen after the sorry meal was over。
‘‘Why； yes； dear； yes；'' sighed Billy； trying to
smile。
‘‘And you'll forget？''
There was no answer。
‘‘Billy！ And you'll forget？'' Bertram's voice
was insistent； reproachful。
Billy changed color and bit her lip。 She looked
plainly distressed。
‘‘Billy！'' cried the man； still more reproachfully。
‘‘But； Bertram； I can't forgetquite yet；''
faltered Billy。
Bertram frowned。 For a minute he looked as
if he were about to take up the matter seriously
and argue it with her； but the next moment he
smiled and tossed his head with jaunty playfulness
Bertram； to tell the truth； had now had
quite enough of what he privately termed
‘‘scenes'' and ‘‘heroics''； and； manlike； he was
very ardently longing for the old easy…going
friendliness； with all unpleasantness banished to
oblivion。
‘‘Oh； but you'll have to forget；'' he claimed；
with cheery insistence； ‘‘for you've promised to
forgive meand one can't forgive without forgetting。
So； there！'' he finished； with a smilingly
determined ‘‘now…everything…is…just…as…it…was…before'' air。
Billy made no response。 She turned hurriedly
and began to busy herself with the dishes at the
sink。 In her heart she was wondering： could
she ever forget what Bertram had said？ Would
anything ever