It was just the thing that Bert, out of sheer wickedness and love of trouble, would not have done.

There would have been a fight, hard feelings, Butch turned into an enemy, and nothing profited to Lily.

But Billy had done the right thing--done it slowly and imperturbably and with the least hurt to everybody.

All of which made him more desirable to Saxon and less possible.
She bought another pair of silk stockings that she had hesitated at for weeks, and on Tuesday night sewed and drowsed wearily over a new shirtwaist and earned complaint from Sarah concerning her extravagant use of gas.
Wednesday night, at the Orindore dance, was not all undiluted pleasure.
It was shameless the way the girls made up to Billy, and, at times, Saxon found his easy consideration for them almost irritating.

Yet she was compelled to acknowledge to herself that he hurt none of the other fellows' feelings in the way the girls hurt hers.