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Billy spent the evening practicingsoftly；
to be sure； so as not to wake Babybut _practicing_。
As the days passed Billy discovered that it
was much easier to say she would ‘‘change
things'' than it was really to change them。 She
changed herself； it is trueher clothes； her
habits； her words； and her thoughts； but it was
more difficult to change Bertram。 In the first
place； he was there so little。 She was dismayed
when she saw how very little； indeed； he was at
homeand she did not like to ask him outright
to stay。 That was not in accordance with her
plans。 Besides； the ‘‘Talk to Young Wives''
said that indirect influence was much to be
preferred； always； to direct persuasionwhich
last； indeed； usually failed to produce results。
So Billy ‘‘dressed up；'' and practiced； and
talked （of anything but the baby）； and even
hinted shamelessly once or twice that she would
like to go to the theater； but all to little avail。
True； Bertram brightened up； for a minute； when
he came home and found her in a new or a favorite
dress； and he told her how pretty she looked。
He appeared to like to have her play to him； too；
even declaring once or twice that it was quite
like old times； yes； it was。 But he never noticed
her hints about the theater； and he did not seem
to like to talk about his work； even a little bit。
Billy laid this last fact to his injured arm。 She
decided that he had become blue and discouraged；
and that he needed cheering up； especially
about his work； so she determinedly and
systematically set herself to doing it。
She talked of the fine work he had done； and
of the still finer work he would yet do； when his
arm was well。 She told him how proud she was
of him； and she let him see how dear his Art was
to her； and how badly she would feel if she thought
he had really lost all his interest in his work and
would never paint again。 She questioned him
about the new portrait he was to begin as soon
as his arm would let him； and she tried to arouse
his enthusiasm in the picture he had planned to
show in the March Exhibition of the Bohemian
Ten； telling him that she was sure his arm would
allow him to complete at least one canvas to hang。
In none of this； however； did Bertram appear
in the least interested。 The one thing； indeed；
which he seemed not to want to talk about； was
his work； and he responded to her overtures on
the subject with only moody silence； or else with
almost irritable monosyllables； all of which not
only grieved but surprised Billy very much。 For；
according to the ‘‘Talk to Young Wives；'' she
was doing exactly what the ideal； sympathetic；
interested…in…her…husband's…work wife should do。
When February came； bringing with it no
change for the better； Billy was thoroughly
frightened。 Bertram's arm plainly was not
improving。 He was more gloomy and restless than
ever。 He seemed not to want to stay at home
at all； and Billy knew now for a certainty that he
was spending more and more time with Bob
Seaver and ‘‘the boys。''
Poor Billy！ Nowhere could she look these days
and see happiness。 Even the adored baby seemed；
at times； almost to give an added pang。 Had he
not become； according to the ‘‘Talk to Young
Wives'' that awful thing； a _Wedge_？ The Annex；
too； carried its sting； for where was the need of
an overflow house for happiness now； when there
was no happiness to overflow？ Even the little
jade idol on Billy's mantel Billy could not bear
to see these days； for its once bland smile had
become a hideous grin； demanding； ‘‘Where；
now； is your heap plenty velly good luckee？''
But； before Bertram； Billy still carried a bravely
smiling face； and to him still she talked earnestly
and enthusiastically of his workwhich last；
as it happened； was the worst course she could
have pursued； for the one thing poor Bertram
wished to forget； just now； washis work。
CHAPTER XXVIII
CONSPIRATORS
Early in February came Arkwright's appearance
at the Boston Opera Housethe first since
he had sung there as a student a few years before。
He was an immediate and an unquestioned success。
His portrait adorned the front page of almost
every Boston newspaper the next morning；
and captious critics vied with each other to do
him honor。 His full history； from boyhood up；
was featured； with special emphasis on his recent
triumphs in New York and foreign capitals。 He
was interviewed as to his opinion on everything
from vegetarianism to woman's suffrage； and
his preferences as to pies and pastimes were given
headline prominence。 There was no doubt of it。
Mr。 M。 J。 Arkwright was a star。
All Arkwright's old friends； including Billy；
Bertram； Cyril； Marie； Calderwell； Alice Greggory；
Aunt Hannah； and Tommy Dunn； went to
hear him sing； and after the performance he held
a miniature reception； with enough adulation to
turn his head completely around； he declared
deprecatingly。 Not until the next evening； however；
did he have an opportunity for what he
called a real talk with any of his friends； then；
in Calderwell's room； he settled back in his chair
with a sigh of content。
For a time his own and Calderwell's affairs
occupied their attention； then； after a short pause；
the tenor asked abruptly：
‘‘Is there anythingwrong with the Henshaws；
Calderwell？''
Calderwell came suddenly erect in his chair。
‘‘Thank you！ I hoped you'd introduce that
subject； though； for that matter； if you hadn't；
I should。 Yes； there isand I'm looking to
you； old man； to get them out of it。''
‘‘I？'' Arkwright sat erect now。
‘‘Yes。''
‘‘What do you mean？''
‘‘In a way； the expected has happened
though I know now that I didn't really expect
it to happen； in spite of my prophecies。 You may
remember I was always skeptical on the subject
of Bertram's settling down to a domestic hearthstone。
I insisted 'twould be the turn of a girl's
head and the curve of her cheek that he wanted
to paint。''
Arkwright looked up with a quick frown。
‘‘You don't mean that Henshaw has been cad
enough to find another''
Calderwell threw up his hand。
‘‘No； no； not that！ We haven't that to deal
withyet； thank goodness！ There's no woman
in it。 And； really； when you come right down to
it； if ever a fellow had an excuse to seek diversion；
Bertram Henshaw haspoor chap！ It's just
this。 Bertram broke his arm again last October。''
‘‘Yes； so I hear； and I thought he was looking
badly。''
‘‘He is。 It's a bad business。 'Twas improperly
set in the first place； and it's not doing well
now。 In fact； I'm told on pretty good authority
that the doctor says he probably will never use
it again。''
‘‘Oh； by George！ Calderwell！''
‘‘Yes。 Tough； isn't it？ 'Specially when you
think of his work； and knowas I happen to
that he's particularly dependent o