Billyshookherhead。
Iknow；butAuntHannahsaidthatevenifIneverexpectedtocook，myself，Ioughttoknowhowitwasdone，sotoproperlyoverseeit。Shesaidthat——thatnowoman，whodidn’tknowhowtocookandkeephouseproperly，hadanybusinesstobeawife。And，Bertram，Ididtry，honestly，allthisweek。Itriedsohardtorememberwhenyouspongedbreadandwhenyoukneadedit。’
Idon’teverneed——_yours_，’cutinBertram，shamelessly；buthegotonlyadeservedlysternglanceinreturn。
AndIrepeatedoverandoveragainhowmanycupfulsofflourandpinchesofsaltandspoonfulsofbaking-powderwentintothings；
but，Bertram，Isimplycouldnotkeepmymindonit。Everything，everywherewassingingtome。AndhowdoyousupposeIcouldrememberhowmanypinchesofflourandspoonfulsofsaltandcupfulsofbaking-powderwentintoaloafofcakewhenallthewhiletheveryteakettleonthestovewassinging：`It’sallright——Bertramlovesme——I’mgoingtomarryBertram!’？’
Youdarling!’(InspiteofthemanacrosstheaisleBertramdidalmostkissherthistime。)
Asifanybodycaredhowmanycupfulsofbaking-powderwentanywhere——withthatinyourheart!’
AuntHannahsaysyouwill——whenyou’rehungry。AndKatesaid——’
Bertramutteredasharpwordbehindhisteeth。
Billy，forheaven’ssakedon’ttellmewhatKatesaid，ifyouwantmetostaysane，andnotattempttofightsomebody——brokenarm，andall。Kate_thinks_she’skind，andIsupposeshemeanswell；but——well，she’smadetroubleenoughbetweenusalready。I’vegotyounow，sweetheart。You’remine——allmine——’hisvoiceshook，anddroppedtoatenderwhisper——
`tilldeathusdopart。’’
Yes；`tilldeathusdopart，’’breathedBilly。
Andthen，foratime，theyfellsilent。
`I，Bertram，takethee，Billy，’’sangthewhirringwheelsbeneaththem，toone。
`I，Billy，takethee，Bertram，’’sangthewhirringwheelsbeneaththem，totheother。
Whilestraightaheadbeforethemboth，stretchedfairandbeautifulintheireyes，thewondrouspathoflifewhichtheyweretotreadtogether。
OnthefirstSundayaftertheweddingPetecameup-stairstotellhismaster，William，thatMrs。Stetsonwantedtoseehiminthedrawing-
room。
Williamwentdownatonce。
Well，AuntHannah，’hebegan，reachingoutacordialhand。Why，what’sthematter？’hebrokeoffconcernedly，ashecaughtaclearerviewofthelittleoldlady’sdrawnfaceandtroubledeyes。
William，it’ssilly，ofcourse，’criedAuntHannah，tremulously，butIsimplyhadtogotosomeone。I——Ifeelsonervousandunsettled!Did——didBillysayanythingtoyou——
whatshewasgoingtodo？’
Whatshewasgoingtodo？Aboutwhat？
Whatdoyoumean？’
Aboutthehouse——sellingit，’falteredAuntHannah，sinkingwearilybackintoherchair。
Williamfrownedthoughtfully。
Why，no，’heanswered。Itwasallsohurriedatthelast，youknow。Therewasreallyverylittlechancetomakeplansforanything——
exceptthewedding，’hefinished，withasmile。
Yes，Iknow，’sighedAuntHannah。Everythingwasinsuchconfusion!Still，Ididn’tknowbutshemighthavesaidsomething——toyou。’
No，shedidn’t。ButIimagineitwon’tbehardtoguesswhatshe’lldo。WhentheygetbackfromtheirtripIfancyshewon’tlosemuchtimeinhavingwhatthingsshewantsbroughtdownhere。Thenshe’llselltherestandputthehouseonthemarket。’
Yes，of——ofcourse，’stammeredAuntHannah，pullingherselfhastilytoamoreerectposition。
That’swhatIthought，too。Thendon’tyouthinkwe’dbetterdismissRosaandclosethehouseatonce？’
Why——yes，perhapsso。Whynot？Thenyou’dbeallsettledherewhenshecomeshome。
I’msure，thesooneryoucome，thebetterI’llbepleased，’hesmiled。
AuntHannahturnedsharply。
Here!’sheejaculated。WilliamHenshaw，youdidn’tsupposeIwascoming_here_tolive，didyou？’
ItwasWilliam’sturntolookamazed。
Why，ofcourseyou’recominghere!Whereelseshouldyougo，pray？’
WhereIwasbefore——beforeBillycame——toyou，’returnedAuntHannahalittletremulously，butwithacertaindignity。Ishalltakearoominsomequietboarding-house，ofcourse。’
Nonsense，AuntHannah!AsifBillywouldlistentothat!Youcamebefore；whynotcomenow？’
AuntHannahliftedherchinthefractionofaninch。
Youforget。Iwasneededbefore。Billyisamarriedwomannow。Sheneedsnochaperon。’
Nonsense!’scowledWilliam，again。Billywillalwaysneedyou。’
AuntHannahshookherheadmournfully。
Iliketothink——shewantsme，William，butIknow，inmyheart，itisn’tbest。’
Whynot？’
Therewasamoment’spause；then，decisivelycametheanswer。
BecauseIthinkyoungmarriedfolksshouldnothaveoutsidersinthehome。’
Williamlaughedrelievedly。
Oh，sothat’sit!Well，AuntHannah，you’renooutsider。Come，runrightalonghomeandpackyourtrunk。’
AuntHannahwasplainlyalmostcrying；butsheheldherground。
William，Ican’t，’shereiterated。
But——Billyissuchachild，and——’
ForonceinhercircumspectlifeAuntHannahwasguiltyofaninterruption。
Pardonme，William，sheisnotachild。Sheisawomannow，andshehasawoman’sproblemstomeet。’
Well，then，whydon’tyouhelphermeetthem？’retortedWilliam，stillwithawhimsicalsmile。
ButAuntHannahdidnotsmile。Foraminuteshedidnotspeak；then，withhereyesstudiouslyaverted，shesaid：
William，thefirstfouryearsofmymarriedlifewere——werespoiledbyanoutsiderinourhome。Idon’tmeantospoilBilly’s。’
Williamrelaxedvisibly。Thesmilefledfromhisface。
Why——Aunt——Hannah!’heexclaimed。
Thelittleoldladyturnedwithawearysigh。
Yes，Iknow。Youareshocked，ofcourse。
Ishouldn’thavetoldyou。Still，itisallpastlongago，and——IwantedtomakeyouunderstandwhyIcan’tcome。Hewasmyhusband’seldestbrother——abachelor。Hewasgoodandkind，andmeantwell，Isuppose；but——heinterferedwitheverything。Iwasyoung，andprobablyheadstrong。Atallevents，therewasconstantfriction。Hewentawayonceandstayedtwowholemonths。Ishallneverforgettheutterfreedomandhappinessofthosemonthsforus，withthewholehousetoourselves。No，William，Ican’tcome。’Sheroseabruptlyandturnedtowardthedoor。Hereyeswerewistful，andherfacewasstilldrawnwithsuffering；butherwholefraillittleselfquiveredplainlywithhighresolve。JohnhasPeggyoutside。Imustgo。’
But——but，AuntHannah，’beganWilliam，helplessly。
Sheliftedaprotestinghand。
No，don’turgeme，please。Ican’tcomehere。
But——IbelieveIwon’tclosethehousetillBillygetshome，afterall，’shedeclared。Thenextmomentshewasgone，andWilliam，dazedly，fromthedoorway，waswatchingJohnhelpherintoBilly’sautomobile，calledbyBillyandhalfherfriends，Peggy，’shortforPegasus。’
StilldazedlyWilliamturnedbackintothehouseanddroppedhimselfintothenearestchair。
Whatacuriouscallithadbeen!AuntHannahhadnotactedlikeherselfatall。NotoncehadshesaidOh，mygriefandconscience!’whilethethingsshe_had_said——!Someway，hehadneverthoughtofAuntHannahasbeingyoung，andabride。Still，ofcourseshemusthavebeen——once。Andthereasonshegavefornotcomingtheretolive——thepitifulstoryofthatoutsiderinherhome!Butshewasnooutsider!ShewasnointerferingbrotherofBilly’s——
Williamcaughthisbreathsuddenly，andhelditsuspended。Thenhegavealowejaculationandhalfsprangfromhischair。
Spunkie，disturbedfromherdozebythefire，utteredapurringme-o-ow，’andlookedupinquiringly。
ForalongminuteWilliamgazeddumblyintothecat’syellow，sleepilycontentedeyes；thenhesaidwithtragicdistinctness：
Spunkie，it’strue：AuntHannahisn’tBilly’shusband’sbrother，but——Iam!Doyouhear？
I_am!_’
Pur-r-me-ow!’commentedSpunkie；andcurledherselfforanothernap。
TherewasnopeaceforWilliamafterthat。Invainhetoldhimselfthathewasnointerfering’
brother，andthatthiswashishomeandhadbeenallhislife；invaindidhedeclareemphaticallythathecouldnotgo，hewouldnotgo；
thatBillywouldnotwishhimtogo：alwaysbeforehiseyeswasthevisionofthatlittlebrideofyearslonggone；alwaysinhisearswastheechoofAuntHannah’sIshallneverforgettheutterfreedomandhappinessofthosemonthsforus，withthewholehousetoourselves。’Nor，turnwhichwayhewould，couldhefindanythingtocomforthim。Simplybecausehewassofearfullylookingforit，hefoundit——thethingthathadforitsthemethewretchednessthatmightbeexpectedfromthepresenceofathirdpersoninthenewhome。
PoorWilliam!Everywherehemetit——thehint，theword，thestory，thesong，even；andalwaysitaddeditsmitetothewoefulwhole。
Eventhehoariestofmother-in-lawjokeshaditsstingforhim；and，tomakehiscupquitefull，hechancedtorememberonedaywhatMariehadsaidwhenhehadsuggestedthatsheandCyrilcometotheStratatolive：No；Ithinkyoungfolksshouldbeginbythemselves。’
Unhappy，indeed，werethesedaysforWilliam。
Likealostspirithewanderedfromroomtoroom，touchingthis，fingeringthat。Forlongminuteshewouldstandbeforesomepicture，orsometreasuredbitofoldmahogany，asiftostampindeliblyuponhismindathingthatwassoontobenomore。Atothertimes，likeamanwithoutahome，hewouldgooutintotheCommonorthePublicGardenandsitforhoursonsomebench——thinking。
Allthiscouldhavebutoneending，ofcourse。
BeforethemiddleofAugustWilliamsummonedPetetohisrooms。
Oh，Pete，I’mgoingtomovenextweek，’
hebegannonchalantly。Hisvoicesoundedasifmovingwereapleasurablecircumstancethatoccurredinhisliferegularlyonceamonth。I’dlikeyoutobegintopackupthesethings，please，to-morrow。’
Theoldservant’smouthfellopen。
You’regoin’to——towhat，sir？’hestammered。
Move——_move_，Isaid。’Williamspokewithunusualharshness。
Petewethislips。
Youmeanyou’vesoldtheoldplace，sir？——
thatwe——weain’tgoin’toliveherenolonger？’
Sold？Ofcoursenot!_I’m_goingtomoveaway；notyou。’
IfPetecouldhaveknownwhatcausedthesharpnessinhismaster’svoice，hewouldnothavebeensogrieved——or，rather，hewouldhavebeengrievedforadifferentreason。Asitwashecouldonlyfaltermiserably：
_You_aregoin’tomoveawayfromhere!’
Yes，yes，man!Why，Pete，whatailsyou？
Onewouldthinkabodynevermovedbefore。’
Theydidn’t——notyou，sir。’
Williamturnedabruptly，sothathisfacecouldnotbeseen。Withsterndeliberationhepickedupanelaboratelydecoratedteapot；butthevaluablebitofLowestoftshooksoinhishandthathesetitdownatonce。Itclickedsharplyagainstitsneighbor，betrayinghisnervoushand。
Petestirred。
But，Mr。William，’hestammeredthickly；
howareyou——what’llyoudowithout——Theredoesn’tnobodybutmeknowsowellaboutyourtea，andthetwolumpsinyourcoffee；andthere’syourflannelsthatyouneverputontillI
get’emout，andthewoolensocksthatyou’dwearallsummerifIdidn’thide’em。And——
andwho’sgoin’totakecareofthese？’hefinished，withaglancethatencompassedtheoverflowingcabinetsandshelvesofcuriosallabouthim。
Hismastersmiledsadly。Anaffectionthathaditsinceptioninhisboyhooddaysshoneinhiseyes。ThehandinwhichtheLowestofthadshakenrestednowheavilyonanoldman’sbentshoulder——ashoulderthatstraighteneditselfinunconsciousloyaltyunderthetouch。
Pete，youhavespoiledme，andnomistake。
Idon’texpecttofindanotherlikeyou。ButmaybeifIwearthewoolensockstoolateyou’llcomeandhuntuptheothersforme。Eh？’
