A matter of business called him away from the house early in the morning; but he told his wife that he surely would be on hand for Miss Winthrop's call at half-past three o'clock that afternoon.
"Yes, do," Billy had urged.

"I think she's lovely, but you know her so much better than I do that I want you here.

Besides, you needn't think _I'm_ going to show her all those Billys of yours.

I may be vain, but I'm not quite vain enough for that, sir!" "Don't worry," her husband had laughed.

"I'll be here." As it chanced, however, something occurred an hour before half-past three o'clock that drove every thought of Miss Winthrop's call from Billy's head.
For three days, now, Pete had been at the home of his niece in South Boston.