By the end of a week even this ceremony was given up,
and before a month had passed, Billy was little more than a guest in her
own home, so far as responsibility was concerned.

Billy was not idle, however; far from it. First, there were the
delightful hours with Bertram. Then there was her music: Billy was
writing a new song--the best she had ever written, Billy declared.

"Why, Bertram, it can't help being that," she said to her husband, one
day. "The words just sang themselves to me right out of my heart; and
the melody just dropped down from the sky. And now, everywhere, I'm
hearing the most wonderful harmonies. The whole universe is singing to
me. If only now I can put it on paper what I hear! Then I can make the
whole universe sing to some one else!"

Even music, however, had to step one side for the wedding calls which
were beginning to be received, and which must be returned, in spite
of the occasional rebellion of the young husband. There were the more
intimate friends to be seen, also, and Cyril and Marie to be visited.
And always there was the Annex.

The Annex was in fine running order now, and was a source of infinite
satisfaction to its founder and great happiness to its beneficiaries.
Tommy Dunn was there, learning wonderful things from books and still
more wonderful things from the piano in the living-room. Alice Greggory
and her mother were there, too--the result of much persuasion. Indeed,
according to Bertram, Billy had been able to fill the Annex only
by telling each prospective resident that he or she was absolutely
necessary to the welfare and happiness of every other resident. Not that
the house was full, either. There were still two unoccupied rooms.

"But then, I'm glad there are," Billy had declared, "for there's sure to
be some one that I'll want to send there."

"Some _one_, did you say?" Bertram had retorted, meaningly; but his wife
had disdained to answer this.

Billy herself was frequently at the Annex. She told Aunt Hannah that
she had to come often to bring the happiness--it accumulated so fast.
Certainly she always found plenty to do there, whenever she came. There
was Aunt Hannah to be read to, Mrs. Greggory to be sung to, and Tommy
Dunn to be listened to; for Tommy Dunn was always quivering with
eagerness to play her his latest "piece."

Billy knew that some day at the Annex she would meet Mr. M. J.
Arkwright; and she told herself that she hoped she should.

Billy had not se