"Nope. Just bored down-town. Felt like bein' cozy and--buzzin' round the lamp in something comfy. Fine! Had a regular banquet! Bill's all right, little devil! I tucked him in so he shouldn't be lonesome. "Me? I've been out walkin'. Been throwin' snow-balls at the street-lamps. My feet are soakin', but I don't care, I don't care. Heard a concert myself, thanks. Whistles and things tootin' out in the snow on the river to beat the band! Don't think of it! I'm fine. Enjoy yourself. What's life for? Good night, old girl. Don't lose your key!" Cameron got as far as the cedar chest in the hall, but there, in his wet socks, he sat down and he laughed until he ached all over. Suddenly he stiffened, and his heels banged against the chest. Miss Merritt, mouth and eyes wide open, stood absorbing him, as crimson as was Cameron himself. "I heard the 'phone," she faltered. "Miss. Cameron always calls up to know if Billy's all right--" "I know that she does," said Cameron, stiffly, and, rising, he stocking-footed it past her and shut himself in his bedroom. "yes, sir; good night, sir." Miss Merritt stared at his door. "Good Lord!" she whispered in the nursery, "how awful for Billy and her if he takes to drink!" Nellie came out of the telephone booth, her face white with horror. "Willoughby," she gasped, "get me a taxi quick!" "Billy--" "No, no, NO! It's Joe!" "What--" "Oh," she wailed, "I've gone too far! Joe is--drunk!" Willoughby's face went to pieces. "Don't look like that, Nell! Don't! What of it? Just what we've been up to, isn't it?" "How can you say that? Get my wraps. I am going home." "Your car isn't ordered till eleven--" "What do I care what I go in? Oh, I have been such a fool!" "Don't mention it," grinned Crane as he wrapped her coat about her. Gaily Crane waved his white-gloved hand to her, her face gleaming back pearl-like for an instant in the shadowy taxi; then she was whirled northward and lost in the snowy night. Back in his place next to Nellie's empty chair, he mused tenderly over the vagaries of a mere bachelor till the incomparable Austrian carried his mind off to where tone is reality, where there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage. Nellie fitted the key into the lock. Her fingers shook. The apartment was dark except for a light in the hall, and as still as if it were empty. If only Joe would STAY asleep till he'd had time to sleep this horrible state of affairs away! She switched off the light and carefully let herself into their room, and stood a moment, huddled, breathless, against the door. The room was ghostly. The vague, snow-veiled light filtered in from the street-lamp below, making of Cameron an incoherent lump, wrapped to his eyes in the covers of their chintz-hung bed.