Where Billy was he could not imagine.
He thought, once or twice, of calling up some of her friends; but something held him back from that--though he did try to get Marie, knowing very well that she was probably over to the new house and would not answer.

He was not surprised, therefore, when he received no reply to his ring.
That there was the slightest truth in Bessie Bailey's absurd "elopement" idea, Bertram did not, of course, for an instant believe.

The only thing that rankled about that was the fact that she had suggested such a thing, and that Miss Winthrop and those silly children had heard her.

He recognized half of Bessie's friends as neighborhood youngsters, and he knew very well that there would be many a quiet laugh at his expense around various Beacon Street dinner-tables that night.

At the thought of those dinner-tables, he scowled again.