Liketwoloverstheyreadandwalkedandtalkedtogether，andliketwochildren，sometimes，theyrompedthroughthestatelyoldroomswithSpunkie，orwithTommyDunn，whowasafrequentguest。Spunkie，beitknown，wasrenewingherkittenhood，sopotentwastheinfluenceofthedanglingstringsandrollingballsthatsheencounteredeverywhere；andTommyDunn，withBilly’shelp，waslearningthatnotevenapairofcrutchesneedkeepalonelylittleladfromafrolic。EvenWilliam，rousedfromhisafter-
　　dinnerdozebypealsoflaughter，wassometimesinveigledintoactivitiesthatlefthimbreathless，butcuriouslyaglow。WhilePete，polishingsilverinthedining-roomdown-stairs，smiledindulgentlyatthemerryclatterabove——andforgottheteasingpaininhisside。
　　ButitwasnotallnonsensewithBilly，norgaylaughter。Moreoftenitwasatenderglowintheeyes，asoftnessinthevoice，aradiantsomethinglikeanauraofjoyallabouther，thattoldhowhappyindeedwerethesedaysforher。Therewasproofbywordofmouth，too——longtalkswithBertraminthedancingfirelightwhentheylaiddearplansforthefuture，andwhenshetriedsohardtomakeherhusbandunderstandwhatagood，goodwifesheintendedtobe，andhowshemeantnevertoletanythingcomebetweenthem。
　　ItwassoearnestandseriousaBillybythistimethatBertramwouldturnstartled，dismayedeyesonhisyoungwife；whereupon，withaveryBilly-likechangeofmood，shewouldgivehimoneofherrarecaresses，andperhapssigh：
　　Goosey——it’sonlybecauseI’msohappy，happy，happy!Why，Bertram，ifitweren’tforthatOverflowAnnexIbelieveI——Ijustcouldn’tlive!
　　ItwasBertramwhosighedthen，andwhoprayedferventlyinhisheartthatnevermightheseearealshadowcloudthatdearface。
　　Thusfar，certainly，thecaresofmatrimonyhadrestedanythingbutheavilyupontheshapelyyoungshouldersofthenewwife。DomesticaffairsattheStratamovedlikeapieceofwell-oiledmachinery。DongLing，tobesure，wasnotthere；
　　butinhisplacereignedPete’sgrandniece，afresh-
　　faced，capableyoungwomanwhoBertramdeclaredcookedlikeanangelandmindedherownbusinesslikeaman。Pete，asofyore，hadfullchargeofthehouse；andacasualeyewouldseefewchanges。Eventhebrothersthemselvessawfew，forthatmatter。
　　True，attheveryfirst，Billyhaddonnedaruffledapronandabewitchingdust-cap，andhadtraversedthehousefromcellartogarretwithaprettilyimportantairofmanagingthings，’asshesuggestedchangesrightandleft。ShehadsummonedPete，too，forthreemorningsinsuccession，andwithgreatdignityhadorderedthemealsfortheday。ButwhenBertramwasdiscoveredoneeveningtuggingbackhisfavoritechair，andwhenWilliamhadaskedifBillywerethroughusinghispipe-tray，theyoungwifehadconcludedtoletthingsremainaboutastheywere。AndwhenWilliamatenobreakfastonemorning，andBertramaggrievedlyrefuseddessertthatnightatdinner，Billy——learningthroughanapologeticPetethatMasterWilliamalwayshadtohaveeggsforbreakfastnomatterwhatelsetherewas，andthatMasterBertramneverateboiledrice——gaveupplanningthemeals。True，forthreemoremorningsshesummonedPetefororders，’buttheorderswerenothingmorenorlessthanablitheWell，Pete，whatarewegoingtohavefordinnerto-day？’Bytheendofaweekeventhisceremonywasgivenup，andbeforeamonthhadpassed，Billywaslittlemorethanaguestinherownhome，sofarasresponsibilitywasconcerned。
　　Billywasnotidle，however；farfromit。First，therewerethedelightfulhourswithBertram。
　　Thentherewashermusic：Billywaswritinganewsong——thebestshehadeverwritten，Billydeclared。
　　Why，Bertram，itcan’thelpbeingthat，’shesaidtoherhusband，oneday。Thewordsjustsangthemselvestomerightoutofmyheart；
　　andthemelodyjustdroppeddownfromthesky。
　　Andnow，everywhere，I’mhearingthemostwonderfulharmonies。Thewholeuniverseissingingtome。IfonlynowIcanputitonpaperwhatIhear!ThenIcanmakethewholeuniversesingtosomeoneelse!’
　　Evenmusic，however，hadtosteponesidefortheweddingcallswhichwerebeginningtobereceived，andwhichmustbereturned，inspiteoftheoccasionalrebellionoftheyounghusband。
　　Therewerethemoreintimatefriendstobeseen，also，andCyrilandMarietobevisited。AndalwaystherewastheAnnex。
　　TheAnnexwasinfinerunningordernow，andwasasourceofinfinitesatisfactiontoitsfounderandgreathappinesstoitsbeneficiaries。TommyDunnwasthere，learningwonderfulthingsfrombooksandstillmorewonderfulthingsfromthepianointheliving-room。AliceGreggoryandhermotherwerethere，too——theresultofmuchpersuasion。Indeed，accordingtoBertram，BillyhadbeenabletofilltheAnnexonlybytellingeachprospectiveresidentthatheorshewasabsolutelynecessarytothewelfareandhappinessofeveryotherresident。Notthatthehousewasfull，either。Therewerestilltwounoccupiedrooms。
　　Butthen，I’mgladthereare，’Billyhaddeclared，forthere’ssuretobesomeonethatI’llwanttosendthere。’
　　Some_one_，didyousay？’Bertramhadretorted，meaningly；buthiswifehaddisdainedtoanswerthis。
　　BillyherselfwasfrequentlyattheAnnex。
　　ShetoldAuntHannahthatshehadtocomeoftentobringthehappiness——itaccumulatedsofast。
　　Certainlyshealwaysfoundplentytodothere，whenevershecame。TherewasAuntHannahtobereadto，Mrs。Greggorytobesungto，andTommyDunntobelistenedto；forTommyDunnwasalwaysquiveringwitheagernesstoplayherhislatestpiece。’
　　BillyknewthatsomedayattheAnnexshewouldmeetMr。M。J。Arkwright；andshetoldherselfthatshehopedsheshould。
　　BillyhadnotseenArkwrightexceptonthestageoftheBostonOperaHousesincethedayhehadleftherpresenceinwhite-faced，stony-
　　eyedmiseryafterdeclaringhisloveforher，andlearningofherengagementtoBertram。Sincethen，sheknew，hehadbeenmuchwithhisoldfriend，AliceGreggory。Shedidnotbelieve，shouldsheseehimnow，thathewouldbeeitherwhite-faced，orstony-eyed。Hisheart，shewassure，hadgonewhereitoughttohavegoneinthefirstplace——toAlice。Suchbeing，inheropinion，thecase，shelongedtogettheembarrassmentofafirstmeetingbetweenthemselvesoverwith，for，afterthat，shewassure，theiroldfriendshipcouldberenewed，andshewouldbeinapositiontofurtherthisprettyloveaffairbetweenhimandAlice。Verydecidedly，therefore，BillywishedtomeetArkwright。Verypleased，consequently，wasshewhen，oneday，comingintotheliving-roomattheAnnex，shefoundthemansittingbythefire。
　　Arkwrightwasonhisfeetatonce。
　　Miss——Mrs。H——Henshaw，’hestammeredOh，Mr。Arkwright，’shecried，withjustashadeofnervousnessinhervoiceassheadvanced，herhandoutstretched。I’mgladtoseeyou。’
　　Thankyou。IwantedtoseeMissGreggory，’
　　hemurmured。Then，astheunconsciousrudenessofhisreplydawnedonhim，hemademattersinfinitelyworsebyanattemptedapology。Thatis，Imean——Ididn’tmean——’hebegantostammermiserably。
　　Somegirlsmighthavetossedtheflounderingmanastrawintheshapeofalightlaughintendedtoturnasideallembarrassment——butnotBilly。
　　Billyheldoutafranklyhelpinghandthatwasmeanttosetthemansquarelyonhisfeetatherside。
　　Mr。Arkwright，don’t，please，’shebeggedearnestly。YouandIdon’tneedtobeataboutthebush。I_am_gladtoseeyou，andIhopeyou’regladtoseeme。We’regoingtobethebestoffriendsfromnowon，I’msure；andsomeday，soon，you’regoingtobringAlicetoseeme，andwe’llhavesomemusic。Ileftherup-stairs。She’llbedownatonce，Idaresay——ImetRosagoingupwithyourcard。Good-by，’shefinishedwithabrightsmile，assheturnedandwalkedrapidlyfromtheroom。
　　Outside，onthesteps，Billydrewalongbreath。
　　There，’shewhispered；that’sover——andwellover!’Thenextminuteshefrownedvexedly。
　　Shehadmissedherglove。Nevermind!
　　Isha’n’tgobackinthereforitnow，anyway，’
　　shedecided。
　　Intheliving-room，fiveminuteslater，AliceGreggoryfoundonlyahastilyscrawlednotewaitingforher。
　　Ifyou’llforgivetheunforgivable，’shereadyou’llforgivemefornotbeingherewhenyoucomedown。`CircumstancesoverwhichIhavenocontrolhavecalledmeaway。’Mayweletitgoatthat？。
　　AsAliceGreggory’samazed，questioningeyesleftthenotetheyfelluponthelongwhitegloveonthefloorbythedoor。Halfmechanicallyshecrossedtheroomandpickeditup；butalmostatonceshedroppeditwithalowcry。
　　Billy!He——saw——Billy!’Thenafloodofunderstandingdyedherfacescarletassheturnedandfledtotheblessedlyunseeingwallsofherownroom。
　　NottenminuteslaterRosatappedatherdoorwithanote。
　　It’sfromMr。Arkwright，Miss。He’sdownstairs。’
　　Rosa’seyeswerepuzzled，andabitstartled。
　　Mr。Arkwright!’
　　Yes，Miss。He’scomeagain。Thatis，I
　　didn’tknowhe’dwent——buthemusthave，forhe’scomeagainnow。Hewrotesomethinginalittlebook；thenhetoreitoutandgaveittome。
　　Hesaidhe’dwait，please，forananswer。’
　　Oh，verywell，Rosa。’
　　MissGreggorytookthenoteandspokewithanelaborateairofindifferencethatwasmeanttoexpressacalmignoringofthepuzzledquestioningintheother’seyes。ThenextmomentshereadthisinArkwright’speculiarscrawl：
　　Ifyou’vealreadyforgiventheunforgivable，you’lldoitagain，Iknow，andcomedown-stairs。
　　Won’tyou，please？Iwanttoseeyou。’
　　MissGreggoryliftedherheadwithajerk。
　　Herfacewasapainfulred。
　　TellMr。ArkwrightIcan’tpossibly——’Shecametoanabruptpause。HereyeshadencounteredRosa’s，andinRosa’seyesthepuzzledquestioningwasplainlyfastbecomingashrewdsuspicion。
　　Therewasthebriefestofhesitations；then，lightly，MissGreggorytossedthenoteaside。
　　TellMr。ArkwrightI’llbedownatonce，please，’shedirectedcarelessly，assheturnedbackintotheroom。
　　Butshewasnotdownatonce。Shewasnotdownuntilshehadtakentimetobatheherredeyes，powderhertelltalenose，smootheherruffledhair，andwhipherselfintothecalm，steady-eyed，self-controlledyoungwomanthatArkwrightfinallyrosetomeetwhenshecameintotheroom。
　　Ithoughtitwasonlywomenwhowereprivilegedtochangetheirmind，’shebeganbrightly；
　　butArkwrightignoredherattempttoconventionalizethesituation。
　　Thankyouforcomingdown，’hesaid，withawearinessthatinstantlydrovetheforcedsmilefromthegirl’slips。I——Iwantedto——totalktoyou。’
　　Yes？’Sheseatedherselfandmotionedhimtoachairnearher。Hetooktheseat，andthenfellsilent，hiseyesoutthewindow。
　　Ithoughtyousaidyou——youwantedtotalk，sheremindedhimnervously，afteraminute。
　　Idid。’Heturnedwithdisconcertingabruptness。
　　Alice，I’mgoingtotellyouastory。’
　　Ishallbegladtolisten。Peoplealwayslikestories，don’tthey？’
　　Dothey？’ThesomberpaininArkwright’seyesdeepened。AliceGreggorydidnotknowit，buthewasthinkingofanotherstoryhehadoncetoldinthatsameroom。Billywashislistenerthen，whilenow——Alittleprecipitatelyhebegantospeak。
　　WhenIwasaverysmallboyIwenttovisitmyuncle，who，inhisyoungdays，hadbeenquiteahunter。Beforethefireplaceinhislibrarywasahugetigerskinwithaparticularlylifelikehead。
　　ThefirsttimeIsawitIscreamed，andranandhid。Irefusedtheneventogointotheroomagain。Mycousinsurged，scolded，pleaded，andlaughedatmebyturns，butIwasobdurate。I
　　wouldnotgowhereIcouldseethefearsomethingagain，eventhoughitwas，astheysaid，`nothingbutadeadoldrug!’
　　Finally，oneday，myuncletookahandinthematter。Bysheerwill-powerheforcedmetogowithhimstraightuptothedreadedcreature，andstandbyitsside。Helaidoneofmyshrinkinghandsonthebeast’ssmoothhead，andthrusttheotheronequiteintotheopenredmouthwithitsgleamingteeth。
　　`Yousee，’hesaid，`there’sabsolutelynothingtofear。Hecan’tpossiblyhurtyou。Justasifyouweren’tbiggerandfinerandstrongerineverywaythanthatdeadthingonthefloor!’
　　Then，whenhehadgotmetothepointwhereofmyownfreewillIwouldwalkupandtouchthething，hedrewalessonforme。
　　`Nowremember，’hechargedme。`Neverrunandhideagain。Onlycowardsdothat。
　　Walkstraightupandfacethething。Tentooneyou’llfindit’snothingbutadeadskinmasqueradingastherealthing。Evenifitisn’tifit’salive——faceit。Findaweaponandfightit。
　　Knowthatyouaregoingtoconqueritandyou’llconquer。Neverrun。Beaman。Mendon’trun，myboy!’’
　　Arkwrightpaused，anddrewalongbreath。Hedidnotlookatthegirlintheoppositechair。Ifhehadlookedhewouldhaveseenafacetransfigured。
　　Well，’heresumed，Ineverforgotthattigerskin，norwhatitstoodfor，afterthatdaywhenUncleBenthrustmyhandintoitshideous，butharmless，redmouth。EvenasakidIbegan，then，totry——nottorun。I’vetriedeversinceButto-day——Ididrun。’
　　Arkwright’svoicehadbeengettinglowerandlower。ThelastthreewordswouldhavebeenalmostinaudibletoearslesssensitivelyalertthanwereAliceGreggory’s。Foramomentafterthewordswereuttered，onlytheclock’stickingbrokethesilence；then，withanobviouseffort，themanrousedhimself，asifbreakingawayfromsomebenumbingforcethatheldhim。
　　Alice，Idon’tneedtotellyou，afterwhatI
　　saidtheothernight，thatIlovedBillyNeilson。
　　Thatwasbadenough，forIfoundshewaspledgedtoanotherman。Butto-dayIdiscoveredsomethingworse：IdiscoveredthatIlovedBilly_Henshaw_——
　　anotherman’swife。And——Iran。ButI’vecomeback。I’mgoingtofacethething。Oh，I’mnotdeceivingmyself!Thisloveofmineisnodeadtigerskin。It’sabeast，aliveandalert——Godpityme!——todestroymyverysoul。ButI’mgoingtofightit；and——Iwantyoutohelpme。’
　　Thegirlgaveahalf-smotheredcry。Themanturned，buthecouldnotseeherfacedistinctly。
　　Twilighthadcome，andtheroomwasfullofshadows。Hehesitated，thenwenton，alittlemorequietly。
　　That’swhyI’vetoldyouallthis——soyouwouldhelpme。Andyouwill，won’tyou？’
　　Therewasnoanswer。Onceagainhetriedtoseeherface，butitwasturnednowquiteawayfromhim。
　　You’vebeenabighelpalready，littlegirl。
　　Yourfriendship，yourcomradeship——they’vebeeneverythingtome。You’renotgoingtomakemedowithoutthem——now？’
　　No——oh，no!’Theanswerwaslowandalittlebreathless；butheheardit。
　　Thankyou。Iknewyouwouldn’t。’Hepaused，thenrosetohisfeet。Whenhespokeagainhisvoicecarriedanoteofwhimsicallightnessthatwasalittleforced。ButImustgo——
　　elseyou_will_takethemfromme，andwithgoodreason。Andpleasedon’tletyourkindheartgrievetoomuch——overme。I’mnodeep-dyedvillaininamelodrama，norwickedloverinaten-
　　pennynovel，youknow。I’mjustaneverydaymaninreallife；andwe’regoingtofightthisthingoutineverydayliving。That’swhereyourhelpiscomingin。We’llgotogethertoseeMrs。BertramHenshaw。She’saskedusto，andyou’lldoit，Iknow。We’llhavemusicandeverydaytalk。
　　We’llseeMrs。BertramHenshawinherownhomewithherhusband，whereshebelongs；and——I’mnotgoingtorunagain。But——I’mcountingonyourhelp，youknow，’hesmiledalittlewistfully，asheheldouthishandingood-by。
　　OneminutelaterAliceGreggory，alone，washurryingup-stairs。
　　Ican’t——Ican’t——IknowIcan’t，’shewaswhisperingwildly。Then，inherownroom，shefacedherselfinthemirror。Yes——you——can，AliceGreggory，’sheasserted，withswiftchangeofvoiceandmanner。Thisis_your_tigerskin，andyou’regoingtofightit。Doyouunderstand？——
　　fightit!Andyou’regoingtowin，too。Doyouwantthatmantoknowyou——_care_？’