Hewasnotsurprised，therefore，whenhereceivednoreplytohisring。
ThattherewastheslightesttruthinBessieBailey’sabsurdelopement’idea，Bertramdidnot，ofcourse，foraninstantbelieve。Theonlythingthatrankledaboutthatwasthefactthatshehadsuggestedsuchathing，andthatMissWinthropandthosesillychildrenhadheardher。HerecognizedhalfofBessie’sfriendsasneighborhoodyoungsters，andheknewverywellthattherewouldbemanyaquietlaughathisexpensearoundvariousBeaconStreetdinner-
tablesthatnight。Atthethoughtofthosedinner-tables，hescowledagain。_He_hadnodinner-table——atleast，hehadnodinneronit!
WhothemanmightbeBertramthoughthecouldeasilyguess。ItwaseitherArkwrightorCalderwell，ofcourse；andprobablythattiresomeAliceGreggorywasmixedupinitsomehow。
HedidwishBilly——