down-stairs still remained in silent, spotless order instead of being
astir with the sounds and smells of a good dinner (as it should have
been) did not improve his temper. Where Billy was he could not imagine.
He thought, once or twice, of calling up some of her friends; but
something held him back from that--though 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-table--at
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 leaving--no 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 patience--and 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 Willia