miss billy-第11章

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Pete；　pallid…faced；　and　shaking。

〃And　you；　too；　Pete！　　Great　Scott！　what　does　this　mean？〃　he
exploded　angrily。

Pete　could　only　shake　his　head　and　glance　imploringly　at　Billy。
His　dry　lips　and　tongue　refused　to　articulate　even　one　word。

〃We　cameforyou；〃　choked　Billy。　　〃You　see；　I　don't　like　that
Seaver　man。〃

〃Well；　by　Jove！　this　is　the　limit！〃　breathed　Bertram。



CHAPTER　XVI

KATE　TAKES　A　HAND


Undeniably　Billy　was　in　disgrace；　and　none　knew　it　better　than
Billy　herself。　　The　whole　family　had　contributed　to　this　knowledge。
Aunt　Hannah　was　inexpressibly　shocked；　she　had　not　breath　even　to
ejaculate　〃My　grief　and　conscience！〃　　Kate　was　disgusted；　Cyril　was
coldly　reserved；　Bertram　was　frankly　angry；　even　William　was　vexed；
and　showed　it。　　Spunk；　too；　as　if　in　league　with　the　rest；　took
this　opportunity　to　display　one　of　his　occasional　fits　of
independence；　and　when　Billy；　longing　for　some　sort　of　comfort；
called　him　to　her；　he　settled　back　on　his　tiny　haunches　and
imperturbably　winked　and　blinked　his　indifference。

Nearly　all　the　family　had　had　something　to　say　to　Billy　on　the
matter；　with　not　entirely　satisfactory　results；　when　Kate
determined　to　see　what　she　could　do。　　She　chose　a　time　when　she
could　have　the　girl　quite　to　herself　with　small　likelihood　of
interruption。

〃But；　Billy；　how　could　you　do　such　an　absurd　thing？〃　she　demanded。
〃The　idea　of　leaving　my　house　alone；　at　half…past　ten　at　night；　to
follow　a　couple　of　men　through　the　streets　of　Boston；　and　then　with
my　brothers'　butler　make　a　scene　like　that　in　aa　public　dining…
room！〃

Billy　sighed　in　a　discouraged　way。

〃Aunt　Kate；　can't　I　make　you　and　the　rest　of　them　understand　that　I
didn't　start　out　to　do　all　that？　　I　meant　just　to　speak　to　Mr。
Bertram；　and　get　him　away　from　that　man。〃

〃But；　my　dear　child；　even　that　was　bad　enough！〃

Billy　lifted　her　chin。

〃You　don't　seem　to　think；　Aunt　Kate；　Mr。　Bertram　waswas　not
sober。〃

〃All　the　more　reason　then　why　you　should　NOT　have　done　what　you
did！〃

〃Why；　Aunt　Kate；　you　wouldn't　leave　him　alone　in　that　condition
with　that　man！〃

It　was　Mrs。　Hartwell's　turn　to　sigh。

〃But；　Billy；〃　she　contested；　wearily；　〃can't　you　understand　that　it
wasn't　YOUR　place　to　interfereyou；　a　young　girl？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　see　what　difference　that　makes。　　I　was　the　only
one　that　could　do　it！　　Besides；　afterward；　I　did　try　to　get　some
one　else；　Uncle　William　and　Mr。　Cyril。　　But　when　I　found　I　couldn't
get　them；　I　just　had　to　do　it　alonethat　is；　with　Pete。〃

〃Pete！〃　scoffed　Mrs。　Hartwell。　　〃Pete；　indeed！〃

Billy's　head　came　up　with　a　jerk。　　Billy　was　very　angry　now。

〃Aunt　Kate；　it　seems　I've　done　a　very　terrible　thing；　but　I'm　sure
I　don't　see　it　that　way。　　I　wasn't　afraid；　and　I　wasn't　in　the
least　bit　of　danger　anywhere。　　I　knew　my　way　perfectly；　and　I　did
NOT　make　any　'scene'　in　that　restaurant。　　I　just　asked　Mr。　Bertram
to　come　home　with　me。　　One　would　think　you　WANTED　Mr。　Bertram　to　go
off　with　that　man　andand　drink　too　much。　　But　Uncle　William
hasn't　liked　him　before；　not　one　bit！　　I've　heard　him　talk　about
himthat　Mr。　Seaver。〃

Mrs。　Hartwell　raised　both　her　hands；　palms　outward。

〃Billy；　it　is　useless　to　talk　with　you。　　You　are　quite　impossible。
It　is　even　worse　than　I　expected！〃　she　cried；　with　wrathful
impatience。

〃Worse　than　youexpected？　　What　do　you　mean；　please？〃

〃Worse　than　I　thought　it　would　bebefore　you　came。　　The　idea　of
those　five　men　taking　a　girl　to　bring　up！〃

Billy　sat　very　still。　　She　was　even　holding　her　breath；　though　Mrs。
Hartwell　did　not　know　that。

〃You　meanthat　they　did　notwant　me？〃　she　asked　quietly；　so
quietly　that　Mrs。　Hartwell　did　not　realize　the　sudden　tension
behind　the　words。　　For　that　matter；　Mrs。　Hartwell　was　too　angry　now
to　realize　anything　outside　of　herself。

〃Want　you！　　Billy；　it　is　high　time　that　you　understand　just　how
things　are；　and　have　been；　at　the　house；　then　perhaps　you　will
conduct　yourself　with　an　eye　a　little　more　to　other　people's
comfort。　　Can　you　imagine　three　young　men　like　my　brothers　WANTING
to　take　a　strange　young　woman　into　their　home　to　upset　everything？〃

〃Toupseteverything！〃　echoed　Billy；　faintly。　　〃And　have　I　done
that？〃

〃Of　course　you　have！　　How　could　you　help　it？　　To　begin　with；　they
thought　you　were　a　boy；　and　that　was　bad　enough；　but　William　was　so
anxious　to　do　right　by　his　dead　friend　that　he　insisted　upon　taking
you；　much　against　the　will　of　all　the　rest　of　us。　　Oh；　I　know　this
isn't　pleasant　for　you　to　hear；〃　admitted　Mrs。　Hartwell；　in
response　to　the　dismayed　expression　in　Billy's　eyes；　〃but　I　think
it's　high　time　you　realize　something　of　what　those　men　have
sacrificed　for　you。　　Now；　to　resume。　　When　they　found　you　were　a
girl；　what　did　they　do？　　Did　they　turn　you　over　to　some　school　or
such　place；　as　they　should　have　done？　　Certainly　not！　　William
would　not　hear　of　it。　　He　turned　Bertram　out　of　his　rooms；　put　you
into　them；　and　established　Aunt　Hannah　as　chaperon　and　me　as
substitute　until　she　arrived。　　But　because；　through　it　all；　he
smiled　blandly；　you　have　been　blind　to　the　whole　thing。

〃And　what　is　the　result？　　His　entire　household　routine　is　shattered
to　atoms。　　You　have　accepted　the　whole　house　as　if　it　were　your
own。　　You　take　Cyril's　time　to　teach　you　music；　and　Bertram's　to
teach　you　painting；　without　a　thought　of　what　it　means　to　them。
There！　　I　suppose　I　ought　not　to　have　said　all　this；　but　I　couldn't
help　it；　Billy。　　And　surely　now；　NOW　you　appreciate　a　little　more
what　your　coming　to　this　house　has　meant；　and　what　my　brothers　have
done　for　you。〃

〃I　do；　certainly；〃　said　Billy；　still　in　that　voice　that　was　so
oddly　smooth　and　emotionless。

〃And　you'll　try　to　be　more　tractable；　less　headstrong；　less
assertive　of　your　presence？〃

The　girl　sprang　to　her　feet　now。

〃More　tractable！　　Less　assertive　of　my　presence！〃　she　cried。　　〃Mrs。
Hartwell；　do　you　mean　to　say　you　think　I'd　STAY　after　what　you've
told　me？〃

〃Stay？　　Why；　of　course　you'll　stay！　　Don't　be　silly；　child。　　I
didn't　tell　you　this　to　make　you　go。　　I　only　wanted　you　to
understand　how　things　wereand　are。〃

〃And　I　do　understandand　I'm　going。〃

Mrs。　Hartwell　frowned。　　Her　face　changed　color。

〃Come；　come；　Billy；　this　is　nonsense。　　William　wants　you　here。　　He
would　never　forgive　me　if　anything　I　said　should　send　you　away。
You　must　not　be　angry　with；　him。〃

Billy　turned　now　like　an　enraged　little　tigress。

〃Angry　with　him！　　Why；　I　love　himI　love　them　all！　　They　are　the
dearest　men　ever；　and　they've　been　so　good　to　me！〃　　The　girl's
voice　broke　a　little；　then　went　on　with　a　more　determined　ring。
〃Do　you　think　I'd　have　them　know　why　I'm　going？that　I'd　hurt　them
like　that？　　Never！〃

〃But；　Billy；　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I've　got　to　plan　it　out。　　I　only　know　now　that　I'm
going；　sure！〃　　And　with　a　choking　little　cry　Billy　ran　from　the
room。

In　her　own　chamber　a　minute　later　the　tears　fell　unrestrained。

〃It's　homeall　the　home　there　isanywhere！〃　she　sobbed。　　〃But
it's　got　to　goit's　got　to　go！〃



CHAPTER　XVII

A　PINK…RIBBON　TRAIL


Mrs。　Stetson　wore　an　air　of　unmistakable　relief　as　she　stepped　into
William's　sitting…room。　　Even　her　knock　at　the　half…open　door　had
sounded　almost　triumphant。

〃William；　it　does　seem　as　if　Fate　itself　had　intervened　to　help　us
out；〃　she　began　delightedly。　　〃Billy；　of　her　own　accord；　came　to　me
this　morning；　and　said　that　she　wanted　to　go　away　with　me　for　a
little　trip。　　So　you　see　that　will　make　it　easier　for　us。〃

〃Good！　　That　is　fortunate；　indeed；〃　cried　William；　but　his　voice
did　not　carry　quite　the　joy　that　his　words　expressed。　　〃I　have　been
disturbed　ever　since　your　remarks　the　other　day；〃　he　continued
wearily；　〃and　of　course　her　extraordinary　escapade　the　next　evening
did　not　help　matters　any。　　It　is　better；　I　know；　that　she　shouldn't
be　herefor　a　time。　　Though　I　shall　miss　her　terribly。　　But；　tell
me；　what　is　itwhat　does　she　want　to　do？〃

〃She　says　she　guesses　she　is　homesick　for　Hampden　Falls；　that　she'd
like　to　go　back　there　for　a　few　weeks　this　summer　if　I'll　go　with
her。　　Thethe　dear　child　seems　suddenly　to　have　taken　a　great
fancy　to　me；〃　explained　Aunt　Hannah；　unsteadily。　　〃I　never　saw　her
so　affectionate。〃

〃She　is　a　dear　girla　very　dear　girl；　and　she　has　a　warm　heart。〃
William　cleared　his　throat　sonorously；　but　even　that　did　not　clear
his　voice。　　〃It　was　her　heart　that　led　her　wrong　the　other　night；〃
he　declared。　　〃Hers　was　a　brave　and　fearless　actbut　a　very　unwise
one。　　Much　as　I　deplore　Bertram's　intimacy　with　Seaver；　I　should
hesitate　to　take　the　course　marked　out　by　Billy。　　Bertram　is　not　a
child。　　But　tell　me　more　of　this　trip　of　yours。　　How　did　Billy
happen　to　suggest　it？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I　noticed　yesterday　that　she　seemed　strangely
silentunhappy；　in　fact。　　She　sat　alone　in　her　room　the　greater
part　of　the　day；　and　I　could　not　get　her　out　of　it。　　But　this
morning　she　came　to　my　door　as　bright　as　the　sun　itself　and　made　me
the　proposition　I　told　you　of。　　She　says　her　aunt's　house　is
closed；　awaiting　its　sale；　but　that　she　would　like　to　open　it　for
awhile　this　summer；　if　I'd　like　to　go。　　Naturally；　you　can
understand　that　I'd　very　quickly　fall　in　with　a　plan　like　that
one　which　promised　so　easily　to　settle　our　difficulties。〃

〃Yes；　of　course；　of　course；〃　muttered　William。　　〃It　is　very　fine；
very　fine　indeed；〃　he　concluded。　　And　again　his　voice　failed　quite
to　match　his　words　in　enthusiasm。

〃Then　I'll　go　and　begin　to　see　to　my　things；〃　murmured　Mrs。
Stetson；　rising　to　her　feet。　　〃Billy　seems　anxious　to　get　away。〃

Billy　did；　indeed；　seem　anxious　to　get　away。　　She　announced　her
intended　departure　at　once　to　the　family。　　She　called　it　a　visit　to
her　old　home；　and　she　seemed　very　glad　in　her　preparations。　　If
there　was　anything　forced　in　this　gayety；　no　one　noticed　it；　or　at
least；　no　one　spoke　of　it。　　The　family　saw　very　little　of　Billy；
indeed；　these　days。　　She　said　that　she　was　busy；　that　she　had
packing　to　do。　　She　stopped　taking　lessons　of　Cyril；　and　visited
Bertram's　studio　only　once　during　the　whole　three　days　before　she
went　away；　and　then　merely　to　get　some　things　that　belonged　to　her。
On　the　fourth　day；　almost　before　the　family　realized　what　was
happening；　she　was　gone；　and　with　her　had　gone　Mrs。　Stetson　and
Spunk。

The　family　said　they　liked　itthe　quiet；　the　freedom。　　They　said
they　liked　to　be　aloneall　but　William。　　He　said　nothing。

And　yet

When　Bertram　went　to　his　studio　that　morning　he　did　not　pick　up　his
brushes　until　he　had　sat　for　long　minutes　before　the　sketch　of　a
red…cheeked；　curly…headed　young　girl　whose　eyes　held　a　peculiarly
wistful　appeal；　and　Cyril；　at　his　piano　up…stairs；　sat　with　idle
fingers　until　they　finally　drifted　into　a　simple　little　melodythe
last　thing　Billy　had　been　learning。

It　was　Pete　who　brought　in　the　kitten；　and　Billy　had　been　gone　a
whole　week　then。

〃The　poor　little　beast　was　cryin'　at　the　alleyway　door；　sir；〃　he
explained。　　〃II　made　so　bold　as　to　bring　him　in。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　William。　　〃Did　you　feed　it？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　Ling　did。〃

There　was　a　pause；　then　Pete　spoke；　diffidently。

〃I　thought；　sir；　if　ye　didn't　mind；　I'd　keep　it。　　I'll　try　to　see
t