“Puddings!” ejaculated Bertram, with an impatient gesture. “Billy, as I've said before, it takes something besides puddings to run this house.” “Yes, I know it does,” dimpled Billy, “and I've got Mrs. Durgin for that part. She's coming twice a week, and more, if I need her. Why, dearie, you don't know anything about how comfortable you're going to be! I'll leave it to Uncle William if--” But Uncle William had gone. Silently he had slipped from his chair and disappeared. Uncle William, it might be mentioned in passing, had never quite forgotten Aunt Hannah's fateful call with its dire revelations concerning a certain unwanted, superfluous, third-party husband's brother. Remembering this, there were times when he thought absence was both safest and best. This was one of the times. “But, Billy, dear,” still argued Bertram, irritably, “how can you? You don't know how. You've had no experience.” Billy threw back her shoulders. An ominous light came to her eyes. She was no longer airily playful. “That's exactly it, Bertram. I don't know how--but I'm going to learn. I haven't had experience--but I'm going to get it. I _can't_ make a worse mess of it than we've had ever since Eliza went, anyway!” “But if you'd get a maid--a good maid,” persisted Bertram, feebly. “I had _one_--Mary Ellen. She was a good maid--until she found out how little her mistress knew; then--well, you know what it was then. Do you think I'd let that thing happen to me again? No, sir! I'm going into training for--my next Mary Ellen!” And with a very majestic air Billy rose from the table and began to clear away the dishes. CHAPTER XVII. THE EFFICIENCY STAR--AND BILLY Billy was not a young woman that did things by halves. Long ago, in the days of her childhood, her Aunt Ella had once said of her: “If only Billy didn't go into things all over, so; but whether it's measles or mud pies, I always know that she'll be the measliest or the muddiest of any child in town!” It could not be expected, therefore, that Billy would begin to play her new rôle now with any lack of enthusiasm. But even had she needed any incentive, there was still ever ringing in her ears Bertram's accusing: “If you'd tend to your husband and your home a little more--” Billy still declared very emphatically that she had forgiven Bertram; but she knew, in her heart, that she had not forgotten.