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sometimes there _hasn't_ been much foundation
for what I've said。 I think this time； however；
you'll find there is；'' she finished； with an air of
hurt dignity。
Billy made no reply； perhaps because Delia；
at that moment； brought in the baby。
Mrs。 Hartwell and little Kate left the Strata
the next morning。 Until then Billy contrived
to keep； before them； a countenance serene； and
a manner free from unrest。 Even when； after
dinner that evening； Bertram put on his hat and
coat and went out； Billy refused to meet her sister…
in…law's meaning gaze。 But in the morning；
after they had left the house； Billy did not
attempt to deceive herself。 Determinedly； then；
she set herself to going over in her mind the past
months since the baby came； and she was appalled
at what she found。 Ever in her ears； too；
was that feared name； ‘‘Bob Seaver''； and ever
before her eyes was that night years ago when；
as an eighteen…year…old girl； she had followed
Bertram and Bob Seaver into a glittering caf
and demand that Seaver let her husband come
home！ But she could keep him at home； perhaps。
（Billy quite brightened at this thought。） Kate
had said that she was so absorbed in Baby that
her husband received no attention at all。 Billy
did not believe this was true； but if it were true；
she could at least rectify that mistake。 If it were
attention that he wantedhe should want no
more。 Poor Bertram！ No wonder that he had
sought distraction outside！ When one had a
horrid broken arm that would not let one do anything；
what else could one do？
Just here Billy suddenly remembered the book；
‘‘A Talk to Young Wives。'' If she recollected
rightly； there was a chapter that covered the very
claim Kate had been making。 Billy had not
thought of the book for months； but she went
at once to get it now。 There might be； after all；
something in it that would help her。
‘‘The Coming of the First Baby。'' Billy
found the chapter without difficulty and settled
herself to read； her countenance alight with
interest。 In a surprisingly short time； however；
a new expression came to her face； and at last a
little gasp of dismay fell from her lips。 She looked
up then； with a startled gaze。
_Had_ her walls possessed eyes and ears all
these past months； only to give instructions to
an unseen hand that it might write what the
eyes and ears had learned？ For it was such
sentences as these that the conscience…smitten
Billy read：
‘‘Maternity is apt to work a miracle in a woman's
life； but sometimes it spells disaster so far
as domestic bliss is concerned。 The young mother；
wrapped up in the delights and duties of motherhood；
utterly forgets that she has a husband。
She lives and moves and has her being in the
nursery。 She thinks baby； talks baby； knows
only baby。 She refuses to dress up； because it
is easier to take care of baby in a frowzy wrapper。
She will not go out with her husband for fear
something might happen to the baby。 She gives
up her music because baby won't let her practice。
In vain her husband tries to interest her
in his own affairs。 She has neither eyes nor ears
for him； only for baby。
‘‘Now no man enjoys having his nose put out
of joint； even by his own child。 He loves his
child devotedly； and is proud of him； of course；
but that does not keep him from wanting the society
of his wife occasionally； nor from longing
for her old…time love and sympathetic interest。
It is an admirable thing； certainly； for a woman
to be a devoted mother； but maternal affection
can be carried too far。 Husbands have some
rights as well as offspring； and the wife who
neglects her husband for her babies does so at her
peril。 Home； with the wife eternally in the
nursery； is apt to be a dull and lonely thing to the
average husband； so he starts out to find amusement
for himselfand he finds it。 Then is the
time when the new little life that is so precious；
and that should have bound the two more closely
together； becomes the wedge that drives them
apart。''
Billy did not read any more。 With a little
sobbing cry she flung the book back into her
desk； and began to pull off her wrapper。 Her
fingers shook。 Already she saw herself a Monster；
a Wicked Destroyer of Domestic Bliss with
her thoughtless absorption in Baby； until he had
become that Awful Thinga _Wedge_。 And Bertram
poor Bertram； with his broken arm！ She
had not played to him； nor sung to him； nor gone
out with him。 And when had they had one of
their good long talks about Bertram's work and
plans？
But it should all be changed now。 She would
play； and sing； and go out with him。 She would
dress up； too。 He should see no more wrappers。
She would ask about his work； and seem
interested。 She _was_ interested。 She remembered
now； that just before he was hurt； he had told
her of a new portrait； and of a new ‘‘Face of a
Girl'' that he had planned to do。 Lately he had
said nothing about these。 He had seemed
discouragedand no wonder； with his broken arm！
But she would change all that。 He should see！
And forthwith Billy hurried to her closet to pick
out her prettiest house frock。
Long before dinner Billy was ready； waiting in
the drawing…room。 She had on a pretty little blue
silk gown that she knew Bertram liked； and she
watched very anxiously for Bertram to come up the
steps。 She remembered now； with a pang； that he
had long since given up his peculiar ring； but she
meant to meet him at the door just the same。
Bertram； however； did not come。 At a quarter
before six he telephoned that he had met some
friends； and would dine at the club。
‘‘My； my； how pretty we are！'' exclaimed
Uncle William； when they went down to dinner
together。 ‘‘New frock？''
‘‘Why； no； Uncle William；'' laughed Billy； a
little tremulously。 ‘‘You've seen it dozens of
times！''
‘‘Have I？'' murmured the man。 ‘‘I don't
seem to remember it。 Too bad Bertram isn't
here to see you。 Somehow； you look unusually
pretty to…night。''
And Billy's heart ached anew。
Billy spent the evening practicingsoftly；
to be sure； so as not to wake Babybut _practicing_。