Rosa says--Billy's not here." "No; she's gone to the opera with the Greggorys." "The _opera!_" There was a grieved hurt in Bertram's voice that Aunt Hannah quite misunderstood.

She hastened to give an apologetic explanation.
"Yes.

She would have told you--she would have asked you to join them, I'm sure, but she said you were going to a banquet.

I'm _sure_ she said so." "Yes, I did tell her so--last night," nodded Bertram, dully.
Aunt Hannah frowned a little.

Still more anxiously she endeavored to explain to this disappointed lover why his sweetheart was not at home to greet him.
"Well, then, of course, my boy, she'd never think of your coming here to-night; and when she found Mr.Arkwright was going to sing--" "Arkwright!" There was no listlessness in Bertram's voice or manner now.
"Yes.