Bertram had only laughed.

He had laughed the harder because at that moment he could hear Cyril pounding out his angry annoyance on the piano upstairs--Cyril had just escaped from one of Billy's most determined "attempts," and Bertram knew it.

Bertram's laugh had puzzled Billy--and it had not quite pleased her.

Hence to-day she did not tell him of her plan to go up-stairs and see what she could do herself, alone, to combat this "foolish bashfulness" on the part of Mr.
Cyril Henshaw.
In spite of her bravery, Billy waited quite one whole minute at the top of the stairs before she had the courage to knock at Cyril's door.
The door was opened at once.
"Why--Billy!" cried the man in surprise.
"Yes, it's Billy.

I--I came up to--to get acquainted," she smiled winningly.
"Why, er--you are very kind.