pestering me with
questions like that ever since she knew she was coming. She never has
forgotten the way you changed from one uncle to the other. You may
remember; it made a great impression on her at the time."

"Yes, I--I remember," stammered Billy, trying to laugh off her
embarrassment.

"But you haven't told me yet whether you did wish you'd married Uncle
William, or Uncle Cyril," interposed little Kate, persistently.

"No, no, of course not!" exclaimed Billy, with a vivid blush, casting
her eyes about for a door of escape, and rejoicing greatly when she
spied Delia with the baby coming toward them. "There, look, my dear,
here's your new cousin, little Bertram!" she exclaimed. "Don't you want
to see him?"

Little Kate turned dutifully.

"Yes'm, Aunt Billy, but I'd rather see the twins. Mother says _they're_
real pretty and cunning."

"Er--y-yes, they are," murmured Billy, on whom the emphasis of the
"they're" had not been lost.

Naturally, as may be supposed, therefore, Billy had not forgotten little
Kate's opening remarks.

Immediately after Christmas Mr. Hartwell and the boys went back to their
Western home, leaving Mrs. Hartwell and her daughter to make a round of
visits to friends in the East. For almost a week after Christmas they
remained at the Strata; and it was on the last day of their stay that
little Kate asked the question that proved so momentous in results.

Billy, almost unconsciously, had avoided tete-a-tetes with her
small guest. But to-day they were alone together.

"Aunt Billy," began the little girl, after a meditative gaze into the
other's face, "you _are_ married to Uncle Bertram, aren't you?"

"I certainly am, my dear," smiled Billy, trying to speak unconcernedly.

"Well, then, what makes you forget it?"

"What makes me forget--Why, child, what a question! What do you mean? I
don't forget it!" exclaimed Billy, indignantly.

"Then what _did_ mother mean? I heard her tell Uncle William myself--she
didn't know I heard, though--that she did wish you'd remember you were
Uncle Bertram's wife as well as Cousin Bertram's mother."

Billy flushed scarlet, then grew very white. At that moment Mrs.
Hartwell came into the room. Little Kate turned triumphantly.

"There, she hasn't forgotten, and I knew she hadn't, mother! I asked her
just now, and she said she hadn't."

"Hadn't what?" questioned Mrs. Hartwell, looking a little apprehensively
at her sister-in-law's white face and angry