JustasBillywasabouttoleavethehousethetelephonebelljangledagain。
ItwasAliceGreggory。
Billy，dear，’shecalled，can’tyoucomeout？Mr。ArkwrightandMr。Calderwellarehere，andthey’vebroughtsomenewmusic。Wewantyou。Willyoucome？’
Ican’t，dear。Bertramwantsme。He’ssentforme。I’vegotsome_housewifely_dutiestoperformto-day，’returnedBilly，inavoicesocuriouslytriumphantthatAlice，atherendofthewires，frownedinpuzzledwonderassheturnedawayfromthetelephone。
Bertramtoldafriendafterwardsthatheneverknewthemeaningofthewordchaos’untilhehadseentheStrataduringtheweeksimmediatelyfollowingthelayingawayofhisoldservant。