paint？　　And　now　he　was　coming　to　dinnerand
  with　Bertram。
  Very　well；　he　should　see！　　He　should　see　that
  Bertram　_did_　love　her；　_her_not　the　tilt　of　her
  chin　nor　the　turn　of　her　head。　　He　should　see　how
  happy　they　were；　what　a　good　wife　she　made；　and
  how　devoted　and　_satisfied_　Bertram　was　in　his
  home。　　He　should　see！　　And　forthwith　Billy
  picked　up　her　skirts　and　tripped　up…stairs　to　select
  her　very　prettiest　house…gown　to　do　honor　to　the
  occasion。　　Up…stairs；　however；　one　thing　and　another
  delayed　her；　so　that　it　was　four　o'clock　when
  she　turned　her　attention　to　her　toilet；　and　it　was
  while　she　was　hesitating　whether　to　be　stately
  and　impressive　in　royally　sumptuous　blue　velvet
  and　ermine；　or　cozy　and　tantalizingly　homy｛sic｝　in
  bronze…gold　crpe　de　Chine　and　swan's…down；
  that　the　telephone　bell　rang　again。
  Eliza　and　Pete　had　not　yet　returned；　so；　as
  before；　Billy　answered　it。　　This　time　Eliza's
  shaking　voice　came　to　her。
  ‘‘Is　that　you；　ma'am？''
  ‘‘Why；　yes；　Eliza？''
  ‘‘Yes'm；　it's　me；　ma'am。　　It's　about　Uncle
  Pete。　　He's　give　us　a　turn　that's　'most　scared　us
  out　of　our　wits。''
  ‘‘Pete！　　You　mean　he's　sick？''
  ‘‘Yes；　ma'am；　he　was。　　That　is；　he　is；　too
  only　he's　better；　now；　thank　goodness；''　panted
  Eliza。　　‘‘But　he　ain't　hisself　yet。　　He's　that　white
  and　shaky！　　Would　youcould　youthat　is；
  would　you　mind　if　we　didn't　come　back　till　into
  the　evenin'；　maybe？''
  ‘‘Why；　of　course　not；''　cried　Pete's　mistress；
  quickly。　　‘‘Don't　come　a　minute　before　he's　able；
  Eliza。　　Don't　come　until　to…morrow。''
  Eliza　gave　a　trembling　little　laugh。
  ‘‘Thank　you；　ma'am；　but　there　wouldn't　be
  no　keepin'　of　Uncle　Pete　here　till　then。　　If　he
  could　take　five　steps　alone　he'd　start　now。　　But
  he　can't。　　He　says　he'll　be　all　right　pretty　quick；
  though。　　He's　had　'em　beforethese　spells
  but　never　quite　so　bad　as　this；　I　guess；　an'　he's
  worryin'　somethin'　turrible　'cause　he　can't　start
  for　home　right　away。''
  ‘‘Nonsense！''　cut　in　Mrs。　Bertram　Henshaw。
  ‘‘Yes'm。　　I　knew　you'd　feel　that　way；''
  stammered　Eliza；　gratefully。　　‘‘You　see；　I　couldn't
  leave　him　to　come　alone；　and　besides；　anyhow；
  I'd　have　to　stay；　for　mother　ain't　no　more　use
  than　a　wet　dish…rag　at　such　times；　she's　that
  scared　herself。　　And　she　ain't　very　well；　too。　　So
  ifif　you　_could_　get　along''
  ‘‘Of　course　we　can！　　And　tell　Pete　not　to
  worry　one　bit。　　I'm　so　sorry　he's　sick！''
  ‘‘Thank　you；　ma'am。　　Then　we'll　be　there
  some　time　this　evenin'；''　sighed　Eliza。
  From　the　telephone　Billy　turned　away　with　a
  troubled　face。
  ‘‘Pete　_is_　ill；''　she　was　saying　to　herself。　　‘‘I
  don't　like　the　looks　of　it；　and　he's　so　faithful　he'd
  come　if''　　With　a　little　cry　Billy　stopped
  short。　　Then；　tremblingly；　she　sank　into　the
  nearest　chair。　　‘‘Calderwelland　he's　coming　to
  _dinner！_''　she　moaned。
  For　two　benumbed　minutes　Billy　sat　staring
  at　nothing。　　Then　she　ran　to　the　telephone　and
  called　the　Annex。
  Aunt　Hannah　answered。
  ‘‘Aunt　Hannah；　for　heaven's　sake；　if　you　love
  me；''　pleaded　Billy；　‘‘send　Rosa　down　instanter！
  Pete　is　sick　over　to　South　Boston；　and　Eliza　is
  with　him；　and　Bertram　is　bringing　Hugh　Calderwell
  home　to　dinner。　　_Can_　you　spare　Rosa？''
  ‘‘Oh；　my　grief　and　conscience；　Billy！　　Of　course
  I　canI　mean　I　couldbut　Rosa　isn't　here；
  dear　child！　　It's　her　day　out；　you　know。''
  ‘‘O　dear；　of　course　it　is！　　I　might　have　known；
  if　I'd　thought；　but　Pete　and　Eliza　have　spoiled
  me。　　They　never　take　days　out　at　meal　time
  both　together；　I　meanuntil　to…night。''
  ‘‘But；　my　dear　child；　what　will　you　do？''
  ‘‘I　don't　know。　　I've　got　to　think。　　I　_must_　do
  something！''
  ‘‘Of　course　you　must！　　I'd　come　over　myself
  if　it　wasn't　for　my　cold。''
  ‘‘As　if　I'd　let　you！''
  ‘‘There　isn't　anybody　here；　only　Tommy。
  Even　Alice　is　gone。　　Oh；　Billy；　Billy；　this　only
  goes　to　prove　what　I've　always　said；　that　_no_
  woman　_ought_　to　be　a　wife　until　she's　an　efficient
  housekeeper；　and''
  ‘‘Yes；　yes；　Aunt　Hannah；　I　know；''　moaned
  Billy；　frenziedly。　　‘‘But　I　am　a　wife；　and　I'm　not
  an　efficient　housekeeper；　and　Hugh　Calderwell
  won't　wait　for　me　to　learn。　　He's　coming　to…night。
  _To…night！_　　And　I've　got　to　do　something。　　Never
  mind。　　I'll　fix　it　some　way。　　Good…by！''
  ‘‘But；　Billy；　Billy！　　Oh；　my　grief　and　conscience；''
  fluttered　Aunt　Hannah's　voice　across
  the　wires　as　Billy　snapped　the　receiver　into
  place。
  For　the　second　time　that　day　Billy　backed
  palpitatingly　against　the　wall。　　Her　eyes　sought
  the　clock　fearfully。
  Fifteen　minutes　past　four。　　She　had　an　hour　and
  three　quarters。　　She　could；　of　course；　telephone
  Bertram　to　dine　Calderwell　at　a　club　or　some
  hotel。　　But　to　do　this　now；　the　very　first　time；
  when　it　had　been　her　own　suggestion　that　he
  ‘‘bring　them　home''no；　no；　she　could　not　do
  that！　　Anything　but　that！　　Besides；　very　likely
  she　could　not　reach　Bertram；　anyway。　　Doubtless
  he　had　left　the　Winthrops'　by　this　time。
  There　was　Marie。　　She　could　telephone　Marie。
  But　Marie　could　not　very　well　come　just　now；　she
  knew；　and　then；　too；　there　was　Cyril　to　be　taken
  into　consideration。　　How　Cyril　would　gibe　at　the
  wife　who　had　to　call　in　all　the　neighbors　just
  because　her　husband　was　bringing　home　a　friend
  to　dinner！　　How　he　would　　Well；　he　shouldn't！
  He　should　not　have　the　chance。　　So；　there！
  With　a　jerk　Mrs。　Bertram　Henshaw　pulled
  herself　away　from　the　wall　and　stood　erect。　　Her
  eyes　snapped；　and　the　very　poise　of　her　chin
  spelled　determination。
  Very　well；　she　would　show　them。　　Was　not
  Bertram　bringing　this　man　home　because　he　was
  proud　of　her？　　Mighty　proud　he　would　be　if　she
  had　to　call　in　half　of　Boston　to　get　his　dinner　for
  him！　　Nonsense！　　She　would　get　it　herself。　　Was
  not　this　the　time；　if　ever；　to　be　an　oak？　　A　vine；
  doubtless；　would　lean　and　cling　and　telephone；
  and　whine　‘‘I　can't！''　　But　not　an　oak。　　An　oak
  would　hold　up　its　head　and　say　‘‘I　can！''　　An
  oak　would　go　ahead　and　get　that　dinner。　　She
  would　be　an　oak。　　She　would　get　that　dinner。
  What　if　she　didn't　know　how　to　cook　bread　and
  cake　and　pies　and　things？　　One　did　not　have　to
  cook　bread　and　cake　and　pies　just　to　get　a　dinner
  meat　and　potatoes　and　vegetables！　　Besides；
  she　_could_　make　peach　fritters。　　She　knew　she
  could。　　She　would　show　them！
  And　with　actually　a　bit　of　song　on　her　lips；　Billy
  skipped　up…stairs　for　her　ruffled　apron　and　dust…
  captwo　necessary　accompaniments　to　this
  dinner…getting；　in　her　opinion。
  Billy　found　the　apron　and　dust…cap　with　no
  difficulty；　but　it　took　fully　ten　of　her　precious
  minutes　to　unearth　from　its　obscure　hiding…place
  the　blue…and…gold　‘‘Bride's　Helper''　cookbook；
  one　of　Aunt　Hannah's　wedding　gifts。
  On　the　way　to　the　kitchen；　Billy　planned　her
  dinner。　　As　was　natural；　perhaps；　she　chose　the
  things　she　herself　would　like　to　eat。
  ‘‘I　won't　attempt　anything　very　elaborate；''
  she　said　to　herself。　　‘‘It　would　be　wiser　to　have
  something　simple；　like　chicken　pie；　perhaps。　　I
  love　chicken　pie！　　And　I'll　have　oyster　stew　first
  that　is；　after　the　grapefruit。　　Just　oysters
  boiled　in　milk　must　be　easier　than　soup　to　make。
  I'll　begin　with　grapefruit　with　a　cherry　in　it；　like
  Pete　fixes　it。　　Those　don't　have　to　be　cooked；
  anyhow。　　I'll　have　fishBertram　loves　the　fish
  course。　　Let　me　see；　halibut；　I　guess；　with　egg
  sauce。　　I　won't　have　any　roast；　nothing　but　the
  chicken　pie。　　And　I'll　have　squash　and　onions。
  I　can　have　a　salad；　easyjust　lettuce　and　stuff。
  That　doesn't　have　to　be　cooked。　　Oh；　and　the
  peach　fritters；　if　I　get　time　to　make　them。　　For
  dessertwell；　maybe　I　can　find　a　new　pie　or
  pudding　in　the　cookbook。　　I　want　to　use　that
  cookbook　for　something；　after　hunting　all　this
  time　for　it！''
  In　the　kitchen　Billy　found　exquisite　neatness；
  and　silence。　　The　first　brought　an　approving　light
  to　her　eyes；　but　the　second；　for　some　unapparent
  reason；　filled　her　heart　with　vague　misgiving。
  This　feeling；　however；　Billy　resolutely　cast　from
  her　as　she　crossed　the　room；　dropped　her　book
  on　to　the　table；　and　turned　toward　the　shining
  black　stove。
  There　was　an　excellent　fire。　　Glowing　points
  of　light　showed　that　only　a　good　draft　was　needed
  to　make　the　whole　mass　of　coal　red…hot。　　Billy；
  however；　did　not　know　this。　　Her　experience　of
  fires　was　confined　to　burning　wood　in　open　grates
  and　wood　in　open　grates　had　to　be　poked　to
  make　it　red　and　glowing。　　With　confident　alacrity
  now；　therefore；　Billy　caught　up　the　poker；　thrust
  it　into　the　mass　of　coals　and　gave　them　a　fine
  stirring　up。　　Then　she　set　back　the　lid　of　the
  stove　and　went　to　hunt　up　the　ingredients　for
  her　dinner。
  By　the　time　Billy　had　searched　five　minutes
  and　found　no　chicken；　no　oysters；　and　no　halibut；
  it　occurred　to　her　that　her　larder　was　not；
  after　all；　an　open　market；　and　that　one's