Notwithstanding what Billy was disposed to regard as the non-success of her first attempt to profit by the “Talk to Young Wives;” she still frantically¹ tried to avert³ the waning⁴ of her honeymoon⁵. Assiduously she cultivated the prescribed “indifference⁶,” and with at least apparent enthusiasm she sought the much-to-be-desired “outside interests.” That is, she did all this when she thought of it when something reminded her of the sword of destruction hanging over her happiness. At other times, when she was just being happy without question, she was her old self impulsive⁷, affectionate, and altogether adorable.

 

Naturally, under these circumstances, her conduct was somewhat erratic⁸. For three days, perhaps, she would fly to the door at her husband's ring, and hang upon his every movement. Then, for the next three, she would be a veritable will-o'-the-wisp for elusiveness⁹, caring, apparently¹⁰, not one whit¹¹ whether her husband came or went until poor Bertram, at his wit's end, scourged¹² himself with a merciless catechism as to what he had done to vex¹³ her. Then, perhaps, just when he had nerved himself almost to the point of asking her what was the trouble, there would come another change, bringing back to him the old Billy,

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