saidthatindirectinfluencewasmuchtobepreferred，always，todirectpersuasion——whichlast，indeed，usuallyfailedtoproduceresults。
SoBillydressedup，’andpracticed，andtalked(ofanythingbutthebaby)，andevenhintedshamelesslyonceortwicethatshewouldliketogotothetheater；butalltolittleavail。
True，Bertrambrightenedup，foraminute，whenhecamehomeandfoundherinaneworafavoritedress，andhetoldherhowprettyshelooked。
Heappearedtoliketohaveherplaytohim，too，evendeclaringonceortwicethatitwasquitelikeoldtimes，yes，itwas。Buthenevernoticedherhintsaboutthetheater，andhedidnotseemtoliketotalkabouthiswork，evenalittlebit。
Billylaidthislastfacttohisinjuredarm。Shedecidedthathehadbecomeblueanddiscouraged，andthatheneededcheeringup，especiallyabouthiswork；soshedeterminedlyandsystematicallysetherselftodoingit。
Shetalkedofthefineworkhehaddone，andofthestillfinerworkhewouldyetdo，whenhisarmwaswell。Shetoldhimhowproudshewasofhim，andshelethimseehowdearhisArtwastoher，andhowbadlyshewouldfeelifshethoughthehadreallylostallhisinterestinhisworkandwouldneverpaintagain。Shequestionedhimaboutthenewportraithewastobeginassoonashisarmwouldlethim；andshetriedtoarousehisenthusiasminthepicturehehadplannedtoshowintheMarchExhibitionoftheBohemianTen，tellinghimthatshewassurehisarmwouldallowhimtocompleteatleastonecanvastohang。
Innoneofthis，however，didBertramappearintheleastinterested。Theonething，indeed，whichheseemednottowanttotalkabout，washiswork；andherespondedtoheroverturesonthesubjectwithonlymoodysilence，orelsewithalmostirritablemonosyllables；allofwhichnotonlygrievedbutsurprisedBillyverymuch。For，accordingtotheTalktoYoungWives，’shewasdoingexactlywhattheideal，sympathetic，interested-in-her-husband’s-workwifeshoulddo。
WhenFebruarycame，bringingwithitnochangeforthebetter，Billywasthoroughlyfrightened。Bertram’sarmplainlywasnotimproving。Hewasmoregloomyandrestlessthanever。Heseemednottowanttostayathomeatall；andBillyknewnowforacertaintythathewasspendingmoreandmoretimewithBobSeaverandtheboys。’
PoorBilly!Nowherecouldshelookthesedaysandseehappiness。Eventheadoredbabyseemed，attimes，almosttogiveanaddedpang。Hadhenotbecome，accordingtotheTalktoYoungWives’thatawfulthing，a_Wedge_？TheAnnex，too，carrieditssting；forwherewastheneedofanoverflowhouseforhappinessnow，whentherewasnohappinesstooverflow？EventhelittlejadeidolonBilly’smantelBillycouldnotbeartoseethesedays，foritsonceblandsmilehadbecomeahideousgrin，demanding，Where，now，isyourheapplentyvellygoodluckee？’
But，beforeBertram，Billystillcarriedabravelysmilingface，andtohimstillshetalkedearnestlyandenthusiasticallyofhiswork——whichlast，asithappened，wastheworstcourseshecouldhavepursued；fortheonethingpoorBertramwishedtoforget，justnow，was——hiswork。
EarlyinFebruarycameArkwright’sappearanceattheBostonOperaHouse——thefirstsincehehadsungthereasastudentafewyearsbefore。
Hewasanimmediateandanunquestionedsuccess。
HisportraitadornedthefrontpageofalmosteveryBostonnewspaperthenextmorning，andcaptiouscriticsviedwitheachothertodohimhonor。Hisfullhistory，fromboyhoodup，wasfeatured，withspecialemphasisonhisrecenttriumphsinNewYorkandforeigncapitals。Hewasinterviewedastohisopiniononeverythingfromvegetarianismtowoman’ssuffrage；andhispreferencesastopiesandpastimesweregivenheadlineprominence。Therewasnodoubtofit。
Mr。M。J。Arkwrightwasastar。
AllArkwright’soldfriends，includingBilly，Bertram，Cyril，Marie，Calderwell，AliceGreggory，AuntHannah，andTommyDunn，wenttohearhimsing；andaftertheperformanceheheldaminiaturereception，withenoughadulationtoturnhisheadcompletelyaround，hedeclareddeprecatingly。Notuntilthenextevening，however，didhehaveanopportunityforwhathecalledarealtalkwithanyofhisfriends；then，inCalderwell’sroom，hesettledbackinhischairwithasighofcontent。
ForatimehisownandCalderwell’saffairsoccupiedtheirattention；then，afterashortpause，thetenoraskedabruptly：
Isthereanything——wrongwiththeHenshaws，Calderwell？’
Calderwellcamesuddenlyerectinhischair。
Thankyou!Ihopedyou’dintroducethatsubject；though，forthatmatter，ifyouhadn’t，Ishould。Yes，thereis——andI’mlookingtoyou，oldman，togetthemoutofit。’
I？’Arkwrightsaterectnow。
Yes。’
Whatdoyoumean？’
Inaway，theexpectedhashappened——
thoughIknownowthatIdidn’treallyexpectittohappen，inspiteofmyprophecies。YoumayrememberIwasalwaysskepticalonthesubjectofBertram’ssettlingdowntoadomestichearthstone。
Iinsisted’twouldbetheturnofagirl’sheadandthecurveofhercheekthathewantedtopaint。’
Arkwrightlookedupwithaquickfrown。
Youdon’tmeanthatHenshawhasbeencadenoughtofindanother——’
Calderwellthrewuphishand。
No，no，notthat!Wehaven’tthattodealwith——yet，thankgoodness!There’snowomaninit。And，really，whenyoucomerightdowntoit，ifeverafellowhadanexcusetoseekdiversion，BertramHenshawhas——poorchap!It’sjustthis。BertrambrokehisarmagainlastOctober。’
Yes，soIhear，andIthoughthewaslookingbadly。’
Heis。It’sabadbusiness。’Twasimproperlysetinthefirstplace，andit’snotdoingwellnow。Infact，I’mtoldonprettygoodauthoritythatthedoctorsaysheprobablywillneveruseitagain。’
Oh，byGeorge!Calderwell!’
Yes。Tough，isn’tit？’Speciallywhenyouthinkofhiswork，andknow——asIhappento——
thathe’sparticularlydependentonhisrighthandforeverything。Hedoesn’ttellthisgenerally，andIunderstandBillyandthefamilyknownothingofit——howhopelessthecaseis，Imean。Well，naturally，thepoorfellowhasbeenprettythoroughlydiscouraged，andtogetawayfromhimselfhe’sgonebacktohisoldBohemianhabits，spendingmuchofhistimewithsomeofhisoldcroniesthatarenonetoogoodforhim——Seaver，forinstance。’
BobSeaver？Yes，Iknowhim。’Arkwright’slipssnappedtogethercrisply。
Yes。Hesaidheknewyou。That’swhyI’mcountingonyourhelp。’
Whatdoyoumean？’
ImeanIwantyoutogetHenshawawayfromhim，andkeephimaway。’
Arkwright’sfacedarkenedwithanangryflush。
GreatScott，Calderwell!Whatareyoutalkingabout？Henshawisnokidtobetotedhome，andI’mnonurserygovernesstodothetoting!’
Calderwelllaughedquietly。
No；Idon’tthinkanyonewouldtakeyouforanurserygoverness，Arkwright，inspiteofthefactthatyouarestillknowntosomeofyourfriendsas`MaryJane。’Butyoucansingasong，man，whichwillpromptlygiveyouathroughtickettotheirinnermostsacredcircle。Infact，tomycertainknowledge，Seaverisalreadyplanningajamboreewithyouattherighthandofthetoastmaster。There’syourchance。Oncein，stayin——longenoughtogetHenshawout。’
But，goodheavens，Calderwell，it’simpossible!
WhatcanIdo？’demandedArkwright，savagely。Ican’twalkuptotheman，takehimbytheear，andsay：`Here，you，sir——marchhome!’NeithercanIcomethe`I-am-holier-
than-thou’act，andholduptohimthemirrorofhistransgressions。’
No，butyoucangethimoutofit_some_way。
Youcanfindaway——forBilly’ssake。’
Therewasnoanswer，and，afteramoment，Calderwellwentonmorequietly。
Ihaven’tseenBillybuttwoorthreetimessinceIcamebacktoBoston——butIdon’tneedto，toknowthatshe’sbreakingherheartoversomething。Andofcoursethatsomethingis——
Bertram。’
Therewasstillnoanswer。Arkwrightgotupsuddenly，andwalkedtothewindow。
Yousee，I’mhelpless，’resumedCalderwell。
Idon’tpaintpictures，norsingsongs，norwritestories，nordancejigsforaliving——andyouhavetodooneoranothertobeinwiththatset。
Andit’sgottobeaJohnny-on-the-spotwithBertram。Allis，somethingwillhavetobedonetogethimoutofthestateofmindandbodyhe’sinnow，or——’
Arkwrightwheeledsharply。
Whendidyousaythisjamboreewasgoingtobe？’hedemanded。
Nextweek，sometime。Thedateisnotsettled。
Theyweregoingtoconsultyou。’
Hm-m，’commentedArkwright。And，thoughhisnextremarkwasacompletechangeofsubject，Calderwellgaveacontentedsigh。
If，whenthepropositionwasfirstmadetohim，ArkwrightwasdoubtfulofhisabilitytobeasuccessfulJohnny-on-the-spot，’hewasevenmoredoubtfulofitasthedayspassed，andhewasattemptingtocarryoutthesuggestion。
Hehadknownthathewasundertakingamostdifficultanddelicatetask，andhesoonbegantofearthatitwasanimpossibleone，aswell。Withadoggedpersistence，however，headheredtohispurpose，everonthealerttobemorewatchful，moretactful，moreefficientinemergencies。
Disagreeableaswasthetask，inaway，inanotherwayitwasagreatpleasuretohim。HewasgladoftheopportunitytodoanythingforBilly；andthen，too，hewasgladofsomethingabsorbingenoughtotakehismindoffhisownaffairs。Hetoldhimself，sometimes，thatthishelpinganothermantofighthistigerskinwasassistinghimselftofighthisown。
ArkwrightwastryingveryhardnottothinkofAliceGreggorythesedays。Hehadcomebackhopingthathewasinameasurecured’ofhisfolly，’ashetermedit；butthefirstlookintoAliceGreggory’sblue-grayeyeshadtaughthimthefallacyofthatidea。InthatveryfirstmeetingwithAlice，hefearedthathehadrevealedhissecret，forshewasplainlysonervouslydistantandillateasewithhimthathecouldbutconstrueherembarrassmentandchillydignityaspityforhimandadesiretoshowhimthatshehadnothingbutfriendshipforhim。Sincethenhehadseenbutlittleofher，partlybecausehedidnotwishtoseeher，andpartlybecausehistimewassofullyoccupied。Then，too，inaround-
aboutwayhehadheardarumorthatCalderwellwasengagedtobemarried；and，thoughnofemininenamehadbeenmentionedinconnectionwiththestory，ArkwrighthadnothesitatedtosupplyinhisownmindthatofAliceGreggory。
Beginningwiththejamboree，’whichcameoffquiteinaccordancewithCalderwell’sprophecies，ArkwrightspentthemostofsuchtimeaswasnotgiventohisprofessionaldutiesindeliberatelycultivatingthesocietyofBertramandhisfriends。Tothisextenthemetwithnodifficulty，forhefoundthatM。J。Arkwright，thenewstarintheoperaticfirmament，wasobviouslyawelcomecomrade。Beyondthisitwasnotsoeasy。Arkwrightwondered，indeed，sometimes，ifheweremakinganyprogressatall。Butstillhepersevered。
HewalkedwithBertram，hetalkedwithBertram，unobtrusivelyhecontrivedtobenearBertramalmostalways，whentheyweretogetherwiththeboys。’Graduallyhewonfromhimthestoryofwhatthesurgeonhadsaidtohim，andofhowblackthefuturelookedinconsequence。Thisestablishedanewbondbetweenthem，sopotentthatArkwrightventuredtotestitonedaybytellingBertramthestoryofthetigerskin——thefirsttigerskininhisuncle’slibraryyearsago，andofhow，sincethen，anydifficultyhehadencounteredhehadtriedtotreatasatigerskin。Intellingthestoryhewascarefultodrawnomoralforhislistener，andtopreachnosermon。Hetoldthetale，too，withallpossiblewhimsicallightnessoftouch，andimmediatelyatitsconclusionhechangedthesubject。
ButthathehadnotfailedutterlyinhisdesignwasevidencedafewdayslaterwhenBertramgrimlydeclaredthatheguessed_his_tigerskinwasalivelybeast，allright。
ThefirsttimeArkwrightwenthomewithBertram，hispresencewasalmostanecessity。
