That Billy should have allowed Miss Winthrop to call by appointment only to find no hostess, no message, no maid, even, to answer her ring--it was inexcusable! Impulsiveness, unconventionality, and girlish irresponsibility were all very delightful, of course--at times; but not now, certainly.

Billy was not a girl any longer.

She was a married woman.

_Something_ was due to him, her husband! A pretty picture he must have made on those steps, trying to apologize for a truant wife, and to laugh off that absurd Bessie Bailey's preposterous assertion at the same time! What would Miss Winthrop think?
What could she think?
Bertram fairly ground his teeth with chagrin, at the situation in which he found himself.
Nor were matters helped any by the fact that Bertram was hungry.
Bertram's luncheon had been meager and unsatisfying.

That the kitchen down-stairs still remained in silent, spotless order instead of being astir with the sounds and smells of a good dinner (as it should have been) did not improve his temper.