t
first--that I'd lose my arm; but that danger is all past now. I'm
loads better. Of course I'm going to paint again--and better than ever
before--_now!_"

Billy lifted her head. A look that was almost terror came to her eyes.
She pulled herself half away from Bertram's encircling arm.

"Why, Billy," cried the man, in pained surprise. "You don't mean to say
you're _sorry_ I'm going to paint again!"

"No, no! Oh, no, Bertram--never that!" she faltered, still regarding
him with fearful eyes. "It's only--for _me_, you know. I _can't_ go back
now, and not have you--after this!--even if I do hinder you, and--"

"_Hinder me!_ What are you talking about, Billy?"

Billy drew a quivering sigh.

"Well, to begin with, Kate said--"

"Good heavens! Is Kate in _this_, too?" Bertram's voice was savage now.

"Well, she wrote a letter."

"I'll warrant she did! Great Scott, Billy! Don't you know Kate by this
time?"

"Y-yes, I said so, too. But, Bertram, what she wrote was true. I found
it everywhere, afterwards--in magazines and papers, and even in Marie."

"Humph! Well, dearie, I don't know yet what you found, but I do know you
wouldn't have found it at all if it hadn't been for Kate--and I wish I
had her here this minute!"

Billy giggled hysterically.

"I don't--not _right_ here," she cooed, nestling comfortably against
her lover's arm. "But you see, dear, she never _has_ approved of the
marriage."

"Well, who's doing the marrying--she, or I?" "That's what I said,
too--only in another way," sighed Billy. "But she called us flyaway
flutterbudgets, and she said I'd ruin your career, if I did marry you."

"Well, I can tell you right now, Billy, you will ruin it if you don't!"
declared Bertram. "That's what ailed me all the time I was painting that
miserable portrait. I was so worried--for fear I'd lose you."

"Lose me! Why, Bertram Henshaw, what do you mean?"

A shamed red crept to the man's forehead.

"Well, I suppose I might as well own up now as any time. I was scared
blue, Billy, with jealousy of--Arkwright."

Billy laughed gayly--but she shifted her position and did not meet her
lover's eyes.

"Arkwright? Nonsense!" she cried. "Why, he's going to marry Alice
Greggory. I know he is! I can see it as plain as day in her letters.
He's there a lot."

"And you never did think for a minute, Billy, that you cared for him?"
Bertram's gaze searched Billy's face a little fearfully. He had not been
slow to mark that s