``Why, of course,'' cried Billy, in a sudden
flood of understanding. Curiously enough, she
had never before thought of Mrs. Hartwell as _her_
sister. ``I shall be glad to call you `Kate'--if
you like.''

``Thank you. I shall like it very much, Billy,''
nodded the other cordially. ``Indeed, my dear,
I'm very fond of you, and I was delighted to hear
you were to be my sister. If only--it could have
stayed William instead of Bertram.''

``But it couldn't,'' smiled Billy. ``It wasn't
William--that I loved.''

``But _Bertram!_--it's so absurd.''

``Absurd!'' The smile was gone now.

``Yes. Forgive me, Billy, but I was about as
much surprised to hear of Bertram's engagement
as I was of Cyril's.''

Billy grew a little white.

``But Bertram was never an avowed--woman-
hater, like Cyril, was he?''

`` `Woman-hater'--dear me, no! He was
a woman-lover, always. As if his eternal `Face