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？’