In fact, he stubbornly refused to believe what the doctor had said.

He straightened himself now a little aggressively.
"Humph! Beggin' yer pardon, Miss--ma'am, but I don't think much o' them doctor chaps." Billy shook her head again as she smiled and turned away.

Then, as if casually, she asked: "Oh, did Mr.Bertram go out, Pete ?" "Yes, Miss; about five o'clock.

He said he'd be back to dinner." "Oh! All right." From the hall the telephone jangled sharply.
"I'll go," said Pete's mistress, as she turned and hurried up-stairs.
It was Bertram's voice that answered her opening "Hullo." "Oh, Billy, is that you, dear?
Well, you're just the one I wanted.

I wanted to say--that is, I wanted to ask you--" The speaker cleared his throat a little nervously, and began all over again.