at did not have its
bit of tissue paper or its trail of red ribbon. And everything--holly,
ribbon, tissue, and tinsel--led to the mysteriously closed doors of the
great front drawing-room, past which none but Billy and her accredited
messengers might venture. No wonder, indeed, that even Baby scented
excitement, and that Baby's mother was not exactly calm. No wonder, too,
that Bertram, with his helpless right arm, and his heavy heart, felt
peculiarly forlorn and "out of it." No wonder, also, that he took
himself literally out of it with growing frequency.

Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell and little Kate were to stay at the Strata. The
boys, Paul and Egbert, were to go to Cyril's. Promptly at the appointed
time, two days before Christmas, they arrived. And from that hour until
two days after Christmas, when the last bit of holly, ribbon, tissue,
and tinsel disappeared from the floor, Billy moved in a whirl of anxious
responsibility that was yet filled with fun, frolic, and laughter.

It was a great success, the whole affair. Everybody seemed pleased and
happy--that is, everybody but Bertram; and he very plainly tried to seem
pleased and happy. Even Cyril unbent to the extent of not appearing to
mind the noise one bit; and Sister Kate (Bertram said) found only
the extraordinarily small number of four details to change in the
arrangements. Baby obligingly let his teeth-getting go, for the
occasion, and he and the twins, Franz and Felix, were the admiration and
delight of all. Little Kate, to be sure, was a trifle disconcerting once
or twice, but everybody was too absorbed to pay much attention to her.
Billy did, however, remember her opening remarks.

"Well, little Kate, do you remember me?" Billy had greeted her
pleasantly.

"Oh, yes," little Kate had answered, with a winning smile. "You're my
Aunt Billy what married my Uncle Bertram instead of Uncle William as you
said you would first."

Everybody laughed, and Billy colored, of course; but little Kate went on
eagerly:

"And I've been wanting just awfully to see you," she announced.

"Have you? I'm glad, I'm sure. I feel highly flattered," smiled Billy.

"Well, I have. You see, I wanted to ask you something. Have you ever
wished that you _had_ married Uncle William instead of Uncle Bertram, or
that you'd tried for Uncle Cyril before Aunty Marie got him?"

"Kate!" gasped her horrified mother. "I told you--You see," she broke
off, turning to Billy despairingly. "She's been