"Anyhow, he did it, and of course our mistake was a very natural one.
The dickens of it is now that we've got to keep it from her, so Will
says; and how--hush! here they are," he broke off, as there came the
sound of wheels stopping before the house.

There followed the click of a key in the lock and the opening of a heavy
door; then, full in the glare of the electric lights stood a plainly
nervous man, and a girl with startled, appealing eyes.

"My dear," stammered William, "this is my sister, Kate, Mrs. Hartwell;
and here are Cyril and Bertram, whom I've told you of. And of course I
don't need to say to them that you are Billy."

It was over. William drew a long breath, and gave an agonized look into
his brothers' eyes. Then Billy turned from Mrs. Hartwell and held out a
cordial hand to each of the men in turn.

"Oh, you don't know how lovely this is--to me," she cried softly. "And
to think that you were willing I should come!" The two younger men
caught their breath sharply, and tried not to see each other's eyes.
"You look so good--all of you; and I don't believe there's one of you
that's got nerves or a heart," she laughed.

Bertram rallied his wits to respond to the challenge.

"No heart, Miss Billy? Now isn't that just a bit hard on us--right at
first?"

"Not a mite, if you take it the way I mean it," dimpled Billy. "Hearts
that are all right just keep on pumping, and you never know they are