ButAlicetroubledher。NotbutthatAlicewaskindnessitselftotheman，either。Itwasonlyapeculiarsomethingalmostlikefear，orconstraint，thatBillythoughtshesawinAlice’seyes，sometimes，whenArkwrightmadeaparticularlyintimateappeal。TherewasCalderwell，too。He，also，worriedBilly。ShefearedhewasgoingtocomplicatemattersstillmorebyfallinginlovewithAlice，himself；andthis，certainly，Billydidnotwantatall。Asthisphaseofthematterpresenteditself，indeed，BillydeterminedtoappropriateCalderwellalittlemoreexclusivelytoherself，whenthefourweretogether，thusleavingAliceforArkwright。Afterall，itwasratherentertaining——thisplayingatCupid’sassistant。
　　Ifshe_could_nothaveBertramallthetime，itwasfortunatethattheseoutsideinterestsweresopleasurable。
　　MostofthemorningsBillyspentinthekitchen，despitetheremonstrancesofbothPeteandEliza。
　　Almosteverymeal，now，wasgracedwithapalatablecake，pudding，ormuffinthatBillywouldproudlyclaimasherhandiwork。Petestillservedattable，andmadestrenuouseffortstokeepupallhisoldduties；buthewasobviouslygrowingweaker，andreallyseriousblunderswerebeginningtobenoticeable。Bertramevenhintedonceortwicethatperhapsitwouldbejustaswelltoinsistonhisgoing；buttothisBillywouldnotgiveherconsent。EvenwhenonenighthispooroldtremblinghandsspilledhalfthecontentsofasoupplateoveranewandcostlyeveninggownofBilly’sown，shestillrefusedtohavehimdismissed。
　　Why，Bertram，Iwouldn’tdoit，’shedeclaredhotly；andyouwouldn’t，either。He’sbeenheremorethanfiftyyears。Itwouldbreakhisheart。He’sreallytooilltowork，andIwishhewouldgoofhisownaccord，ofcourse；butI
　　sha’n’tevertellhimtogo——notifhespillssouponeverydressI’vegot。I’llbuymore——andmore，ifit’snecessary。Blesshisdearoldheart!Hethinkshe’sreallyservingus——andheis，too。’
　　Oh，yes，you’reright，he_is!_’sighedBertram，withmeaningemphasis，asheabandonedtheargument。
　　InadditiontoherTalktoYoungWives，’
　　Billyfoundherselfencounteringadviceandcommentonthemarriagequestionfromstillotherquarters——fromheracquaintancesmostlythefeminineonesrightandleft。Continuallyshewashearingsuchwordsasthese：
　　Oh，well，whatcanyouexpect，Billy？You’reanoldmarriedwoman，now。’
　　Nevermind，you’llfindhe’slikealltherestofthehusbands。Youjustwaitandsee!’
　　Betterbeginwithahighhand，Billy。Don’tlethimfoolyou!’
　　Mercy!IfIhadahusbandwhosebusinessitwastolookatwomen’sbeautifuleyes，peachycheeks，andluxurioustresses，Ishouldgocrazy!
　　It’shardenoughtokeepaman’seyesonyourselfwhenhisdailyinterestsaresupposedtobejustlumpsofcoalandchunksofice，withoutflinginghimintotheveryjawsoftemptationlikeaskinghimtopaintaprettygirl’spicture!’
　　Inresponsetoallthis，ofcourse，Billycouldbutlaugh，andblush，andtossbacksomegayreply，withacarelessunconcern。Butinherheartshedidnotlikeit。Sometimesshetoldherselfthatiftherewerenotanyadviceorcommentfromanybody——eitherbookorwoman——iftherewerenotanybodybutjustBertramandherself，lifewouldbejustonelonghoneymoonforeverandforever。
　　OnceortwiceBillywastemptedtogotoMariewiththishoneymoonquestion；butMariewasverybusythesedays，andverypreoccupied。ThenewhousethatCyrilwasbuildingonCoreyHill，notfarfromtheAnnex，wasalmostfinished，andMariewasimmersedinthesubjectofhouse-
　　furnishingsandinteriordecoration。Shewas，too，stillmoredeeplyengrossedinthefashioningoftinygarmentsofthesoftestlinen，lace，andwoolen；andtherewasonherfacesuchalookofbeatificwonderandjoythatBillydidnotliketosomuchashintthattherewasintheworldsuchabookasWhentheHoneymoonWanes：A
　　TalktoYoungWives。’
　　BillytriedvaliantlythesedaysnottomindthatBertram’sworkwassoabsorbing。Shetriednottomindthathisbusinessdealt，notwithlumpsofcoalandchunksofice，butwithbeautifulwomenlikeMargueriteWinthropwhoaskedhimtoluncheon，andlovelygirlslikehismodelforTheRose’whocamefreelytohisstudioandspenthoursinthebelovedpresence，beingstudiedforwhatBertramdeclaredwasabsolutelythemostwonderfulpoiseofheadandshouldersthathehadeverseen。
　　Billytried，also，thesedays，tosoconductherselfthatnotbyanychancecouldCalderwellsuspectthatsometimesshewasjealousofBertram’sart。NotforworldswouldshehavehadCalderwellbegintogetthenotionintohisheadthathisold-timeprophecyconcerningBertram’scaringonlyfortheturnofagirl’sheadorthetiltofherchin——topaint，wasbeingfulfilled。
　　Hence，particularlygayandcheerfulwasBillywhenCalderwellwasnear。NorcoulditbesaidthatBillywasreallyunhappyatanytime。Itwasonlythat，onoccasion，theverydepthofherhappinessinBertram’slovefrightenedher，lestitbringdisastertoherselforBertram。
　　BillystillwentfrequentlytotheAnnex。Therewereyettwounfilledroomsinthehouse。Billywashesitatingwhichtwoofsixnewfriendsofherstochooseasoccupants；anditwasonedayearlyinMarch，aftershehadbeentalkingthematteroverwithAuntHannah，thatAuntHannahsaid：
　　Dearme，Billy，ifyouhadyourwayIbelieveyou’dopenanotherwholehouse!’
　　Doyouknow？——that’sjustwhatI’mthinkingof，’retortedBilly，gravely。ThenshelaughedatAuntHannah’sshockedgestureofprotest。
　　Oh，well，Idon’texpectto，’sheadded。I
　　haven’tlivedverylong，butI’velivedlongenoughtoknowthatyoucan’talwaysdowhatyouwantto。’
　　Justasiftherewereanything_you_wantedtodothatyoudon’tdo，mydear，’reprovedAuntHannah，mildly。
　　Yes，Iknow。’Billydrewinherbreathwithalittlecatch。Ihavesomuchthatislovely；
　　andthat’swhyIneedthishouse，youknow，fortheoverflow，’shenoddedbrightly。Then，withacharacteristicchangeofsubject，sheadded：
　　My，butyoushouldhavetastedofthepopoversImadeforbreakfastthismorning!’
　　Ishouldliketo，’smiledAuntHannah。
　　Williamsaysyou’regettingtobequiteacook。’
　　Well，maybe，’concededBilly，doubtfully。
　　Oh，Icandosomethingsallright；butjustwaittillPeteandElizagoawayagain，andBertrambringshomeafriendtodinner。That’lltellthetale。IthinknowIcouldhavesomethingbesidespotato-mushandburnedcorn——butmaybeIwouldn’t，whenthetimecame。IfonlyIcouldbuyeverythingIneededtocookwith，I’dbeallright。ButIcan’t，Ifind。’
　　Can’tbuywhatyouneed!Whatdoyoumean？’
　　Billylaughedruefully。
　　Well，everyotherquestionIaskEliza，shesays：`Why，Idon’tknow；youhavetouseyourjudgment。’JustasifIhadanyjudgmentabouthowmuchsalttouse，orwhatdishtotake!
　　Dearme，AuntHannah，themanthatwillgrowjudgmentandcanitasyouwouldamessofpeas，hasgothisfortunemade!’
　　Whatanabsurdchildyouare，Billy，’laughedAuntHannah。IusedtotellMarie——Bytheway，howisMarie？Haveyouseenherlately？’
　　Oh，yes，Isawheryesterday，’twinkledBilly。
　　Shehadabookofwall-papersamplesspreadoverthebackofachair，twobunchesofsamplesofdifferentcoloreddamasksonthetablebeforeher，a`YoungMother’sGuide’proppedopeninanotherchair，andapairofbaby’ssocksinherlapwitharolleachofpink，andwhite，andblueribbon。Shespentmostofthetime，afterIhadhelpedherchoosetheribbon，inaskingmeifIthoughtsheoughttoletthebabycryandbotherCyril，orstopitscryingandhurtthebaby，becauseher`Mother’sGuide’saysacertainamountofcryingisneededtodevelopababy’slungs。’
　　AuntHannahlaughed，butshefrowned，too。
　　Theidea!IguessCyrilcanstandpropercrying——andlaughing，too——fromhisownchild!’shesaidthen，crisply。
　　Oh，butMarieisafraidhecan’t，’smiledBilly。Andthat’sthetrouble。Shesaysthat’stheonlythingthatworriesher——Cyril。’
　　Nonsense!’ejaculatedAuntHannah。
　　Oh，butitisn’tnonsensetoMarie，’retortedBilly。Youshouldseethepreparationsshe’smadeandtheprecautionsshe’staken。Actually，whenIsawthosebaby’ssocksinherlap，Ididn’tknowbutshewasgoingtoputrubberheelsonthem!They’vebuiltthenewhousewithdeadeningfeltinallthewalls，andMarie’splannedthenurseryandCyril’sdenatoppositeendsofthehouse；andshesayssheshallkeepthebabythere_all_thetime——thenursery，Imean，nottheden。Shesaysshe’sgoingtoteachittobeaquietbabyandhatenoise。Shesaysshethinksshecandoit，too。’
　　Humph!’sniffedAuntHannah，scornfully。
　　YoushouldhaveseenMarie’sdisgusttheotherday，’wentonBilly，abitmischievously。
　　HerCousinJanesentonarattleshe’dmadeherself，allsoftworsted，withbellsinside。Itwasadear；butMariewashorror-stricken。
　　`Mybabyhavearattle？’shecried。`Why，whatwouldCyrilsay？Asifhecouldstandarattleinthehouse!’Andifshedidn’tgivethatrattletothejanitor’swifethatveryday，whileIwasthere!’
　　Humph!’sniffedAuntHannahagain，asBillyrosetogo。Well，I’mthinkingMariehasstillsomethingstolearninthisworld——andCyril，too，forthatmatter。’
　　Iwouldn’twonder，’laughedBilly，givingAuntHannahagood-bykiss。
　　BertramHenshawhadnodisquietingforebodingsthistimeconcerninghisportraitofMargueriteWinthropwhenthedoorsoftheBohemianTenClubExhibitionwerethrownopentomembersandinvitedguests。Justhowgreatapopularsuccessitwasdestinedtobe，hecouldnotknow，ofcourse，thoughhemighthavesuspecteditwhenhebegantoreceivetheadmiringandheartycongratulationsofhisfriendsandfellow-artistsonthatfirstevening。
　　NorwastheWinthropportraittheonlyjewelinhiscrownonthatoccasion。HismarvelouslyexquisiteTheRose，’andhissmalleridealpicture，Expectation，’cameinforscarcelylesscommendation。Therewasnodoubtnow。TheoriginatorofthefamousFaceofaGirl’hadcomeintohisownagain。Onallsidesthiswastheverdict，onelong-hairedcriticofinternationalfameevenclaimingopenlythatHenshawhadnotonlyequaledhisformerbestwork，buthadgonebeyondit，inbothartistryandtechnique。
　　Itwasabrilliantgathering。Society，asusual，incostlyeveninggownsandcorrectswallow-tailsrubbedelbowswithnamesfamousintheworldofArtandLetters。Everywhereweregaylaughterandsparklingrepartee。Eventheaustere-facedJ。G。Winthropunbenttotheextentofgrimsmilesinresponsetothelaudatorycommentsbestoweduponthepicturedimageofhisidol，hisbeautifuldaughter。
　　Astothegreatfinancier’sownopinionofthework，nooneheardhimexpressitexcept，perhaps，theartist；andallthathegotwasagripofthehandandaGood!Iknewyou’dfetchitthistime，myboy!’Butthatwasenough。And，indeed，noonewhoknewthesternoldmanneededtomorethanlookintohisfacethateveningtoknowofhisentiresatisfactioninthisportraitsoontobethemostrecent，andthemostcherishedadditiontohisfar-famedartcollection。
　　AstoBertram——Bertramwaspleasedandhappyandgratified，ofcourse，aswasnatural；
　　buthewasnotonewhitmoresothanwasBertram’swife。Billyfairlyradiatedhappinessandproudjoy。ShetoldBertram，indeed，thatifhedidanythingtomakeheranyprouder，itwouldtakeanAnnexthesizeoftheBostonOperaHousetoholdherextrahappiness。
　　Sh-h，Billy!Someonewillhearyou，’
　　protestedBertram，tragically；but，inspiteofhishorrifiedvoice，hedidnotlookdispleased。
　　ForthefirsttimeBillymetMargueriteWinthropthatevening。Attheoutsettherewasjustabitofshynessandconstraintintheyoungwife’smanner。BillycouldnotforgetheroldinsanejealousyofthisbeautifulgirlwiththeenviednameofMarguerite。Butitwasforonlyamoment，andsoonshewashernatural，charmingself。
　　MissWinthropwasfascinated，andshemadenopretenseofhidingit。SheeventurnedtoBertramatlast，andcried：
　　Surely，now，Mr。Henshaw，youneednevergofarforamodel!Whydon’tyoupaintyourwife？’
　　Billycolored。Bertramsmiled。