t it isn't necessary. You
aren't sick; are you?"

"N-no, not exactly; but I have been sneezing all the morning, and taking
camphor and sugar to break it up--if it is a cold. But it is so raw and
Novemberish out, that--"

"Why, of course you sha'n't go, you poor dear! Mercy! don't get one
of those dreadful colds on to you before the wedding! Have you felt
a draft? Where's another shawl?" Billy turned and cast searching eyes
about the room--Billy always kept shawls everywhere for Aunt Hannah's
shoulders and feet. Bertram had been known to say, indeed, that a room,
according to Aunt Hannah, was not fully furnished unless it contained
from one to four shawls, assorted as to size and warmth. Shawls,
certainly, did seem to be a necessity with Aunt Hannah, as she usually
wore from one to three at the same time--which again caused Bertram to
declare that he always counted Aunt Hannah's shawls when he wished to
know what the thermometer was.

"No, I'm not cold, and I haven't felt a draft," said Aunt Hannah now. "I
put on my thickest gray shawl this morning with the little pink one for
down-stairs, and the blue one for breakfast; so you see I've been very
careful. But I _have_ sneezed six times, so I think 'twould be safer not
to go out in this east wind. You were going to stop for Mrs. Granger,
anyway, weren't you? So you'll have her with you for the tea."

"Yes, dear, don't worry. I'll take your cards and explain to Mrs.
Carleton and her daughters."

"And, of course, as far as Mary Jane is concerned, I don't know her any
more than you do; so I couldn't be any help there," sighed Aunt Hannah.

"Not a bit," smiled Billy, cheerily. "Don't give it another thought, my
dear. I sha'n't have a bit of trouble. All I'll have to do is to look
for a girl alone with a pink. Of course I'll have mine on, too, and
she'll be watching for me. So just run along and take your nap, dear,
and be all rested and ready to welcome her when she comes," finished
Billy, stooping to give the soft, faintly pink cheek a warm kiss.

"Well, thank you, my dear; perhaps I will," sighed Aunt Hannah, drawing
the gray shawl about her as she turned away contentedly.

Mrs. Carleton's tea that afternoon was, for Billy, not an occasion of
unalloyed joy. It was the first time she had appeared at a gathering of
any size since the announcement of her engagement; and, as she dolefully
told Bertram afterwards, she had very much the feeling of the picture
hung on the