iam. She thought it natural that she should feel a little
diffident with him, in the face of his sudden change from an "uncle"
to an accepted lover; but she did not see why she should be afraid of
him--yet she was. She owned that to herself unhappily. And he was so
good!--she owned that, too. He seemed not to have a thought in the world
but for her comfort and happiness; and there was no end to the tactful
little things he was always doing for her pleasure. He seemed, also, to
have divined that she did not like to be kissed and caressed; and only
occasionally did he kiss her, and then it was merely a sort of fatherly
salute on her forehead--for which consideration Billy was grateful:
Billy decided that she would not like to be kissed on the lips.

After some days of puzzling over the matter Billy concluded that it was
self-consciousness that caused all the trouble. With William she was
self-conscious. If she could only forget that she was some day to be
William's wife, the old delightful comradeship would return, and
she would be at ease again with him. In time, after she had become
accustomed to the idea of marriage, it would not so confuse her, of
course. She loved him dearly, and she wanted to make him happy; but for
the present--just while she was "getting used to things"--she would try
to forget, sometimes, that she was going to be William's wife.

Billy was happier now. She was always happier after she had thought
things out to her own satisfaction. She turned with new zest to
the entertainment of her guests; and with Bertram she planned many
delightful trips for their pleasure. Bertram was a great comfort to her
these days. Never, in word or look, could she see that he overstepped
the role which he had promised to play--William's brother.

Billy went back to her music, too. A new melody was running through her
head, and she longed to put it on paper. Already her first little "Group
of Songs" had found friends, and Billy, to a very modest extent, was
beginning to taste the sweets of fame.

Thus, by all these interests, did Billy try "to get used to things."

CHAPTER XXXIX

A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER

Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest. She was a
permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or
two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so
brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips. The
joyousness was all the mor