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with his old friend； Alice Greggory； she had been
so glad。 It was very easy then to fan hope into
conviction that here； in this old friend； he had
found sweet balm for his wounded heart； and she
determined at once to do all that she could do to
help。 So very glowing； indeed； was her eagerness
in the matter； that it looked suspiciously as if she
thought； could she but bring this thing about；
that old scores against herself would be erased。
Billy told herself； virtuously； however； that
not only for Arkwright did she desire this marriage
to take place； but for Alice Greggory。 In
the very nature of things Alice would one day be
left alone。 She was poor； and not very strong。
She sorely needed the shielding love and care of a
good husband。 What more natural than that her
old…time friend and almost…sweetheart； M。 J。
Arkwright； should be that good husband？
That really it was more Arkwright and less
Alice that was being considered； however； was
proved when the devotion of Calderwell began to
be first suspected； then known for a fact。 Billy's
distress at this turn of affairs indicated very
plainly that it was not just a husband； but a
certain one particular husband that she desired
for Alice Greggory。 All the more disturbed was
she； therefore； when to…day； seeing her three
friends together again for the first time for some
weeks； she discovered increased evidence that her
worst fears were to be realized。 It was to be
Alice and Calderwell； not Alice and Arkwright。
Arkwright was again to be disappointed in his
dearest hopes。
Telling herself indignantly that it could not
be； it _should_ not be； Billy determined to remain
after the men had gone； and speak to Alice。 Just
what she would say she did not know。 Even
what she could say； she was not sure。 But
certainly there must be something； some little thing
that she could say； which would open Alice's eyes
to what she was doing； and what she ought to
do。
It was in this frame of mind； therefore； that
Billy； after Arkwright and Calderwell had gone；
spoke to Alice。 She began warily； with assumed
nonchalance。
‘‘I believe Mr。 Arkwright sings better every
time I hear him。''
There was no answer。 Alice was sorting music
at the piano。
‘‘Don't you think so？'' Billy raised her voice
a little。
Alice turned almost with a start。
‘‘What's that？ Oh； yes。 Well； I don't know；
maybe I do。''
‘‘You wouldif you didn't hear him any
oftener than I do；'' laughed Billy。 ‘‘But then；
of course you do hear him oftener。''
‘‘I？ Oh； no； indeed。 Not so very much
oftener。'' Alice had turned back to her music。
There was a slight embarrassment in her manner。
‘‘I wonderwherethat new songis；'' she
murmured。
Billy； who knew very well where the song lay；
was not to be diverted。
‘‘Nonsense！ As if Mr。 Arkwright wasn't
always telling how Alice liked this song； and didn't
like that one； and thought the other the best yet！
I don't believe he sings a thing that he doesn't
first sing to you。 For that matter； I fancy he
asks your opinion of everything； anyway。''
‘‘Why； Billy； he doesn't！'' exclaimed Alice； a
deep red flaming into her cheeks。 ‘‘You know he
doesn't。''
Billy laughed gleefully。 She had not been slow
to note the color in her friend's face； or to ascribe
to it the one meaning she wished to ascribe to it。
So sure； indeed； was she now that her fears had
been groundless； that she flung caution to the
winds。
‘‘Ho！ My dear Alice； you can't expect us all
to be blind；'' she teased。 ‘‘Besides； we all think
it's such a lovely arrangement that we're just
glad to see it。 He's such a fine fellow； and we like
him so much！ We couldn't ask for a better husband
for you than Mr。 Arkwright； and'' From
sheer amazement at the sudden white horror
in Alice Greggory's face； Billy stopped short。
‘‘Why； Alice！'' she faltered then。
With a visible effort Alice forced her trembling
lips to speak。
‘‘My husband_Mr。 Arkwright！_ Why； Billy；
you couldn't have seenyou haven't seen
there's nothing you _could_ see！ He isn'the
wasn'the can't be！ Wewe're nothing but
friends； Billy； just good friends！''
Billy； though dismayed； was still not quite
convinced。
‘‘Friends！ Nonsense！ When''
But Alice interrupted feverishly。 Alice； in an
agony of fear lest the true state of affairs should
be suspected； was hiding behind a bulwark of
pride。
‘‘Now； Billy； please！ Say no more。 You're
quite wrong； entirely。 You'll never； never hear of
my marrying Mr。 Arkwright。 As I said before；
we're friendsthe best of friends； that is all。
We couldn't be anything else； possibly！''
Billy； plainly discomfited； fell back； but she
threw a sharp glance into her friend's flushed
countenance。
‘‘You meanbecause ofHugh Calderwell？''
she demanded。 Then； for the second time
that afternoon throwing discretion to the winds；
she went on plaintively： ‘‘You won't listen； of
course。 Girls in love never do。 Hugh is all right；
and I like him； but there's more real solid worth
in Mr。 Arkwright's little finger than there is in
Hugh's whole self。 And'' But a merry peal
of laughter from Alice Greggory interrupted。
‘‘And； pray； do you think I'm in love with
Hugh Calderwell？'' she demanded。 There was
a curious note of something very like relief in her
voice。
‘‘Well； I didn't know；'' began Billy； uncertainly。
‘‘Then I'll tell you now；'' smiled Alice。 ‘‘I'm
not。 Furthermore； perhaps it's just as well that
you should know right now that I don't intend
to marryever。''
‘‘Oh； Alice！''
‘‘No。'' There was determination； and there
was still that curious note of relief in the girl's
voice。 It was as if； somewhere； a great danger
had been avoided。 ‘‘I have my music。 That is
enough。 I'm not intending to marry。''
‘‘Oh； but Alice； while I will own up I'm glad it
isn't Hugh Calderwell； there _is_ Mr。 Arkwright；
and I did hope'' But Alice shook her head
and turned resolutely away。 At that moment；
too； Aunt Hannah came in from the street； so
Billy could say no more。
Aunt Hannah dropped herself a little wearily
into a chair。
‘‘I've just come from Marie's；'' she said。
‘‘How is she？'' asked Billy。
Aunt Hannah smiled； and raised her eyebrows。
‘‘Well； just now she's quite exercised over
another rattlefrom her cousin out West； this
time。 There were four little silver bells on it；
and she hasn't got any janitor's wife now to give
it to。''
Billy laughed softly； but Aunt Hannah had
more to say。
‘‘You know she isn't going to allow any toys
but Teddy bears and woolly lambs； of which； I
believe； she has already bought quite an assortment。
She says they don't rattle or squeak。 I
declare； when I see the woolen pads and rubber
hushers that that child has put everywhere all
ov