Liketwoloverstheyreadandwalkedandtalkedtogether，andliketwochildren，sometimes，theyrompedthroughthestatelyoldroomswithSpunkie，orwithTommyDunn，whowasafrequentguest。Spunkie，beitknown，wasrenewingherkittenhood，sopotentwastheinfluenceofthedanglingstringsandrollingballsthatsheencounteredeverywhere；andTommyDunn，withBilly’shelp，waslearningthatnotevenapairofcrutchesneedkeepalonelylittleladfromafrolic。EvenWilliam，rousedfromhisafter-
dinnerdozebypealsoflaughter，wassometimesinveigledintoactivitiesthatlefthimbreathless，butcuriouslyaglow。WhilePete，polishingsilverinthedining-roomdown-stairs，smiledindulgentlyatthemerryclatterabove——andforgottheteasingpaininhisside。
ButitwasnotallnonsensewithBilly，norgaylaughter。Moreoftenitwasatenderglowintheeyes，asoftnessinthevoice，aradiantsomethinglikeanauraofjoyallabouther，thattoldhowhappyindeedwerethesedaysforher。Therewasproofbywordofmouth，too——longtalkswithBertraminthedancingfirelightwhentheylaiddearplansforthefuture，andwhenshetriedsohardtomakeherhusbandunderstandwhatagood，goodwifesheintendedtobe，andhowshemeantnevertoletanythingcomebetweenthem。
ItwassoearnestandseriousaBillybythistimethatBertramwouldturnstartled，dismayedeyesonhisyoungwife；whereupon，withaveryBilly-likechangeofmood，shewouldgivehimoneofherrarecaresses，andperhapssigh：
Goosey——it’sonlybecauseI’msohappy，happy，happy!Why，Bertram，ifitweren’tforthatOverflowAnnexIbelieveI——Ijustcouldn’tlive!