he's been at home scarcely one
evening since I came? And as for the days--he's almost never here."

"But, Kate, he can't paint now, you know, so of course he doesn't
need to stay so closely at home," defended Billy. "He goes out to find
distraction from himself."

"Yes, 'distraction,' indeed," sniffed Kate. "And where do you suppose
he finds it? Do you _know_ where he finds it? I tell you, Billy, Bertram
Henshaw is not the sort of man that should find too much 'distraction'
outside his home. His tastes and his temperament are altogether too
Bohemian, and--"

Billy interrupted with a peremptorily upraised hand.

"Please remember, Kate, you are speaking of my husband to his wife; and
his wife has perfect confidence in him, and is just a little particular
as to what you say."

"Yes; well, I'm speaking of my brother, too, whom I know very well,"
shrugged Kate. "All is, you may remember sometime that I warned
you--that's all. This trusting business is all very pretty; but I think
'twould be a lot prettier, and a vast deal more sensible, if you'd give
him a little attention as well as trust, and see if you can't keep him
at home a bit more. At least you'll know whom he's with, then. Cyril
says he saw him last week with Bob Seaver."

"With--Bob--Seaver?" faltered Billy, changing color.

"Yes. I see you remember him," smiled Kate, not quite agreeably.
"Perhaps now you'll take some stock in what I've said, and remember it."

"I'll remember it, certainly," returned Billy, a little proudly. "You've
said a good many things to me, in the past, Mrs. Hartwell, and I've
remembered them all--every one."

It was Kate's turn to flush, and she did it.

"Yes, I know. And I presume very likely 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 s