o say--that my brother--has moved-gone away--_left_--his
_home?_" he demanded.

"Yes, sir."

Billy gave a low cry.

"But why--why?" she choked, almost stumbling headlong down the stairway
in her effort to reach the two men at the bottom. "Pete, why did he go?"

There was no answer.

"Pete,"--Bertram's voice was very sharp--"what is the meaning of this?
Do you know why my brother left his home?"

The old man wet his lips and swallowed chokingly, but he did not speak.

"I'm waiting, Pete."

Billy laid one hand on the old servant's arm--in the other hand she
still tightly clutched the mirror knobs.

"Pete, if you do know, won't you tell us, please?" she begged.

Pete looked down at the hand, then up at the troubled young face with
the beseeching eyes. His own features worked convulsively. With a
visible effort he cleared his throat.

"I know--what he said," he stammered, his eyes averted.

"What was it?"

There was no answer.

"Look here, Pete, you'll have to tell us, you know," cut in Bertram,
decisively, "so you might as well do it now as ever."

Once more Pete cleared his throat. This time the words came in a burst
of desperation.

"Yes, sir. I understand, sir. It was only that he said--he said as how
young folks didn't _need_ any one else around. So he was goin'."

"Didn't _need_ any one else!" exclaimed Bertram, plainly not
comprehending.

"Yes, sir. You two bein' married so, now." Pete's eyes were still
averted.

Billy gave a low cry.

"You mean--because _I_ came?" she demanded.

"Why, yes, Miss--no--that is--" Pete stopped with an appealing glance at
Bertram.

"Then it was--it _was_--on account of _me_," choked Billy.

Pete looked still more distressed

"No, no!" he faltered. "It was only that he thought you wouldn't want
him here now."

"Want him here!" ejaculated Bertram.

"Want him here!" echoed Billy, with a sob.

"Pete, where is he?" As she asked the question she dropped the mirror
knobs into her open bag, and reached for her coat and gloves--she had
not removed her hat.

Pete gave the address.

"It's just down the street a bit and up the hill," he added excitedly,
divining her purpose. "It's a sort of a boarding-house, I reckon."

"A _boarding-house_--for Uncle William!" scorned Billy, her eyes ablaze.
"Come, Bertram, we'll see about that."

Bertram reached out a detaining hand.

"But, dearest, you're so tired," he demurred. "Hadn't we better wait
till after dinner,