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attentions of his wife； and the companionship
of his wifea part of the time。 It was nothing
more than natural that occasionally he should like
to see her show some interest in subjects not
mentioned in Mothers' Guides and Scientific
Trainings of Infants； and he did not believe he
could be blamed for wanting his residence to be
a home for himself as well as a nursery for his
offspring。
Even while he thus discontentedly argued with
himself； however； Bertram called himself a selfish
brute just to think such things when he had
so dear and loving a wife as Billy； and so fine and
splendid a baby as Bertram； Jr。 He told himself；
too； that very likely when they were back in
their own house again； and when motherhood
was not so new to her； Billy would not be so
absorbed in the baby。 She would return to her old
interest in her husband； her music； her friends；
and her own personal appearance。 Meanwhile
there was always； of course； for him； his
painting。 So he would paint； accepting gladly what
crumbs of attention fell from the baby's table；
and trust to the future to make Billy none the
less a mother； perhaps； but a little more the
wife。
Just how confidently he was counting on this
coming change； Bertram hardly realized himself；
but certainly the family was scarcely settled at
the Strata before the husband gayly proposed
one evening that he and Billy should go to the
theater to see ‘‘Romeo and Juliet。''
Billy was clearly both surprised and shocked。
‘‘Why； Bertram； I can'tyou know I can't！''
she exclaimed reprovingly。
Bertram's heart sank； but he kept a brave
front。
‘‘Why not？''
‘‘What a question！ As if I'd leave Baby！''
‘‘But； Billy； dear； you'd be gone less than three
hours； and you say Delia's the most careful of
nurses。''
Billy's forehead puckered into an anxious
frown。
‘‘I can't help it。 Something might happen
to him； Bertram。 I couldn't be happy a minute。''
‘‘But； dearest； aren't you _ever_ going to leave
him？'' demanded the young husband； forlornly。
‘‘Why； yes； of course； when it's reasonable
and necessary。 I went out to the Annex yesterday
afternoon。 I was gone almost two whole
hours。''
‘‘Well； did anything happen？''
‘‘N…no； but then I telephoned； you see；
several times； so I _knew_ everything was all right。''
‘‘Oh； well； if that's all you want； I could
telephone； you know； between every act；'' suggested
Bertram； with a sarcasm that was quite lost on
the earnest young mother。
‘‘Y…yes； you could do that； couldn't you？''
conceded Billy； ‘‘and； of course； I _haven't_ been
anywhere much； lately。''
‘‘Indeed I could；'' agreed Bertram； with a
promptness that carefully hid his surprise at her
literal acceptance of what he had proposed as a
huge joke。 ‘‘Come； is it a go？ Shall I telephone
to see if I can get seats？''
‘‘You think Baby'll surely be all right？''
‘‘I certainly do。''
‘‘And you'll telephone home between every
act？''
‘‘I will。'' Bertram's voice sounded almost as
if he were repeating the marriage service。
‘‘And we'll come straight home afterwards as
fast as John and Peggy can bring us？''
‘‘Certainly。''
‘‘Then I thinkI'llgo；'' breathed Billy；
tremulously； plainly showing what a momentous
concession she thought she was making。 ‘‘I do
love ‘Romeo and Juliet；' and I haven't seen it
for ages！''
‘‘Good！ Then I'll find out about the tickets；''
cried Bertram； so elated at the prospect of having
an old…time evening out with his wife that
even the half…hourly telephones did not seem too
great a price to pay。
When the time came； they were a little late in
starting。 Baby was fretful； and though Billy
usually laid him in his crib and unhesitatingly
left the room； insisting that he should go to sleep
by himself in accordance with the most approved
rules in her Scientific Training； yet to…night she
could not bring herself to the point of leaving the
house until he was quiet。 Hurried as they were
when they did start； Billy was conscious of Bertram's
frowning disapproval of her frock。
‘‘You don't like it； of course； dear； and I don't
blame you；'' she smiled remorsefully。
‘‘Oh； I like itthat is； I did； when it was
new；'' rejoined her husband； with apologetic
frankness。 ‘‘But； dear； didn't you have anything
else？ This looks almostwell； mussy；
you know。''
‘‘Nowell； yes； maybe there were others；''
admitted Billy； ‘‘but this was the quickest and
easiest to get into； and it all came just as I was
getting Baby ready for bed； you know。 I am a
fright； though； I'll acknowledge； so far as clothes
go。 I haven't had time to get a thing since Baby
came。 I must get something right away； I suppose。''
‘‘Yes； indeed；'' declared Bertram； with
emphasis； hurrying his wife into the waiting automobile。
Billy had to apologize again at the theater； for
the curtain had already risen on the ancient quarrel
between the houses of Capulet and Montague；
and Billy knew her husband's special abhorrence
of tardy arrivals。 Later； though； when well
established in their seats； Billy's mind was plainly
not with the players on the stage。
‘‘Do you suppose Baby _is_ all right？'' she
whispered； after a time。
‘‘Sh…h！ Of course he is； dear！''
There was a brief silence； during which Billy
peered at her program in the semi…darkness。
Then she nudged her husband's arm ecstatically。
‘‘Bertram； I couldn't have chosen a better
play if I'd tried。 There are _five_ acts！ I'd forgotten
there were so many。 That means you can
telephone four times！''
‘‘Yes； dear。'' Bertram's voice was sternly
cheerful。
‘‘You must be sure they tell you exactly how
Baby is。''
‘‘All right； dear。 Sh…h！ Here's Romeo。''
Billy subsided。 She even clapped a little in
spasmodic enthusiasm。 Presently she peered at
her program again。
‘‘There wouldn't be time； I suppose； to telephone
between the scenes；'' she hazarded wistfully。
‘‘There are sixteen of those！''
‘‘Well； hardly！ Billy； you aren't paying one
bit of attention to the play！''
‘‘Why； of course I am；'' whispered Billy；
indignantly。 ‘‘I think it's perfectly lovely； and
I'm perfectly contented； toosince I found out
about those five acts； and as long as I _can't_ have
the sixteen scenes；'' she added； settling back in
her seat。
As if to prove that she was interested in the
play； her next whisper； some time later； had to
do with one of the characters on the stage。
‘‘Who's thatthe nurse？ Mercy！ We
wouldn't want her for Baby； would we？''
In spite of himself Bertram chuckled this time。
Billy； too； laughed at herself。 Then； resolutely；
she settled into her seat again。
The curtain was not fairly down on the first
act before Billy had laid an urgent hand on her
husband's arm。
‘‘Now； remember； ask