Bertram’sarmwasasgoodasever’now，accordingtoitsowner；andthesittingsforthenewportraitbeganatonce。ThisleftBillyevenmoretoherowndevices，forBertramenteredintohisnewworkwithanenthusiasmbornofagladrelieffromforcedidleness，andaconsumingeagernesstoprovethateventhoughhehadfailedthefirsttime，hecouldpaintaportraitofMargueriteWinthropthatwouldbeacredittohimself，aconclusiveretorttohiscritics，andasourceofpridetohisoncemortifiedfriends。Withhiswholeheart，therefore，hethrewhimselfintotheworkbeforehim，stayingsometimeswellintotheafternoononthedaysMissWinthropcouldfindtimebetweenhersocialengagementstogivehimasitting。
Itwasonsuchaday，towardthemiddleofthemonth，thatBillywascalledtothetelephoneathalf-pasttwelveo’clocktospeaktoherhusband。
Billy，dear，’beganBertramatonce，ifyoudon’tmindI’mstayingtoluncheonatMissWinthrop’skindrequest。We’vechangedthepose——
neitherofuswassatisfied，youknow——butwehaven’tquitesettledonthenewone。MissWinthrophastwowholehoursthisafternoonthatshecangivemeifI’llstay；and，ofcourse，underthecircumstances，Iwanttodoit。’
Ofcourse，’echoedBilly。Billy’svoicewasindomitablycheerful。