Before she would quite surrender to this heart-sickening belief, however, she determined to ask Bertram himself.
Falteringly, but resolutely, therefore, one day, she questioned him.
"Bertram, once you hinted that the picture did not go right because you were troubled over something; and I've been wondering--was it about--me, in any way, that you were troubled ?" Billy had her answer before the man spoke.

She had it in the quick terror that sprang to his eyes, and the dull red that swept from his neck to his forehead.

His reply, so far as words went did not count, for it evaded everything and told nothing.

But Billy knew without words.
She knew, too, what she must do.

For the time being she took Bertram's evasive answer as he so evidently wished it to be taken; but that evening, after he had gone, she wrote him a little note and broke the engagement.