“And, of course, Popsey Wayne must come,” she observed in her practical little way.  “I dare say he won’t want to, poor dear, but it wouldn’t do if he didn’t.  Only you, you dear thing, will have to go in with him—­to pilot him and look after him when the dishes are passed.  But I’m going to have some one nice on your other side, do you see?—­some one awfully nice.  We shall have to ask a few people outside the family, just to give it relief, and save it from looking like Christmas.”

“You’ll have Billy, I suppose.”

Evie took the time to deposit a lace blouse in a drawer, as softly as a mother lays a sleeping babe to rest.

“No, I sha’n’t ask Billy,” she said, while she was still stooping.

“Won’t he think that queer?”

“I hope so.”  She turned from the drawer, and lifted a blue gossamer creation from the bed.  Miriam smiled indulgently.

“Why?  What’s the matter?  Have you anything to punish him for?”

“I’ve nothing to punish him for; I’ve only got something I want to—­bring home to him.”  She paused in the middle of the room, with her blue burden held in her outstretched arms, somewhat like a baby at a christening.  “I might as well tell you, Miriam, first as last.  You’ve got to know it some time, though I don’t want it talked about just yet.  I’ve broken my engagement to Billy.”

“Broken your engagement!  Why, I saw Billy myself this morning.  I met him as I was coming over.  He said he was here last night, and seemed particularly cheerful.”

“He doesn’t know it yet.  I’m doing it—­by degrees.”

“You’re doing it by—­what?” Miriam rose and came toward her, stopping midway to lean on the foot-rail of the bed.  “Evie darling, what do you mean?”

Evie’s eyes brimmed suddenly, and her lip trembled.

“If you’re going to be cross about it—­”

“I’m not going to be cross about it, but I want you to tell me exactly what you’re doing.”

“Well, I’m telling you.  I’ve broken my engagement, and I want to let Billy know it in the kindest way.  I don’t want to hurt his feelings.  You wouldn’t like me to do that yourself.  I’m trying to bring him where he’ll see things just as I do.”

“And may I ask if you’re—­getting him there?”

“I shall get him there in time.  I’m doing lots of things to show him.”

“Such as what?”

“Such as not asking him to the dinner, for one thing.  He’ll know from that there’s something wrong.  He’ll make a fuss, and I shall be disagreeable.  Little by little he’ll get to dislike me—­and then—­”

“And how long do you think it will take for that good work to be accomplished?”

“I don’t see that that matters.  I suppose I may take all the time I need.  We’re both young—­”

“And have all your lives to give to it.  Is that what you mean?”

“I don’t want to give all my life to it, because—­I may as well tell you that, too, while I’m about it—­because I’m engaged to some one else.”