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saidthatindirectinfluencewasmuchtobepreferred，always，todirectpersuasion——whichlast，indeed，usuallyfailedtoproduceresults。
SoBillydressedup，’andpracticed，andtalked(ofanythingbutthebaby)，andevenhintedshamelesslyonceortwicethatshewouldliketogotothetheater；butalltolittleavail。
True，Bertrambrightenedup，foraminute，whenhecamehomeandfoundherinaneworafavoritedress，andhetoldherhowprettyshelooked。
Heappearedtoliketohaveherplaytohim，too，evendeclaringonceortwicethatitwasquitelikeoldtimes，yes，itwas。Buthenevernoticedherhintsaboutthetheater，andhedidnotseemtoliketotalkabouthiswork，evenalittlebit。
Billylaidthislastfacttohisinjuredarm。Shedecidedthathehadbecomeblueanddiscouraged，andthatheneededcheeringup，especiallyabouthiswork；soshedeterminedlyandsystematicallysetherselftodoingit。
Shetalkedofthefineworkhehaddone，andofthestillfinerworkhewouldyetdo，whenhisarmwaswell。Shetoldhimhowproudshewasofhim，andshelethimseehowdearhisArtwastoher，andhowbadlyshewouldfeelifshethoughthehadreallylostallhisinterestinhisworkandwouldneverpaintagain。Shequestionedhimaboutthenewportraithewastobeginassoonashisarmwouldlethim；andshetriedtoarousehisenthusiasminthepicturehehadplannedtoshowintheMarchExhibitionoftheBohemianTen，tellinghimthatshewassurehisarmwouldallowhimtocompleteatleastonecanvastohang。
Innoneofthis，however，didBertramappearintheleastinterested。Theonething，indeed，whichheseemednottowanttotalkabout，washiswork；andherespondedtoheroverturesonthesubjectwithonlymoodysilence，orelsewithalmostirritablemonosyllables；allofwhichnotonlygrievedbutsurprisedBillyverymuch。For，accordingtotheTalktoYoungWives，’shewasdoingexactlywhattheideal，sympathetic，interested-in-her-husband’s-workwifeshoulddo。
WhenFebruarycame，bringingwithitnochangeforthebetter，Billywasthoroughlyfrightened。Bertram’sarmplainlywasnotimproving。Hewasmoregloomyandrestlessthanever。Heseemednottowanttostayathomeatall；andBillyknewnowforacertaintythathewasspendingmoreandmoretimewithBobSeaverandtheboys。’
PoorBilly!Nowherecouldshelookthesedaysandseehappiness。Eventheadoredbabyseemed，attimes，almosttogiveanaddedpang。Hadhenotbecome，accordingtotheTalktoYoungWives’thatawfulthing，a_Wedge_？TheAnnex，too，carrieditssting；forwherewastheneedofanoverflowhouseforhappinessnow，whentherewasnohappinesstooverflow？EventhelittlejadeidolonBilly’smantelBillycouldnotbeartoseethesedays，foritsonceblandsmilehadbecomeahideousgrin，demanding，Where，now，isyourheapplentyvellygoodluckee？’
But，beforeBertram，Billystillcarriedabravelysmilingface，andtohimstillshetalkedearnestlyandenthusiasticallyofhiswork——whichlast，asithappened，wastheworstcourseshecouldhavepursued；fortheonethingpoorBertramwishedtoforget，justnow，was——hiswork。
EarlyinFebruarycameArkwright’sappearanceattheBostonOperaHouse——thefirstsincehehadsungthereasastudentafewyearsbefore。
Hewasanimmediateandanunquestionedsuccess。
HisportraitadornedthefrontpageofalmosteveryBostonnewspaperthenextmorning，andcaptiouscriticsviedwitheachothertodohimhonor。Hisfullhistory，fromboyhoodup，wasfeatured，withspecialemphasisonhisrecenttriumphsinNewYorkandforeigncapitals。Hewasinterviewedastohisopiniononeverythingfromvegetarianismtowoman’ssuffrage；andhispreferencesastopiesandpastimesweregivenheadlineprominence。Therewasnodoubtofit。
Mr。M。J。Arkwrightwasastar。
AllArkwright’soldfriends，includingBilly，Bertram，Cyril，Marie，Calderwell，AliceGreggory，AuntHannah，andTommyDunn，wenttohearhimsi
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