miss billy-第12章

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〃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
that　it　stays　down…stairs；　sir；　out　of　yer　way。〃

〃That's　all　right；　Pete；　keep　it；　by　all　means；　by　all　means；〃
approved　William。

〃Thank　ye；　sir。　　Ye　see；　it's　a　stray。　　It　hasn't　got　any　home。
And；　did　ye　notice；　sir？　it　looks　like　Spunk。〃

〃Yes；　I　noticed；〃　said　William；　stirring　with　sudden　restlessness。
〃I　noticed。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Pete。　　And　he　turned　and　carried　the　small　gray
cat　away。

The　new　kitten　did　not　stay　down…stairs。　　Pete　tried；　it　is　true；
to　keep　his　promise　to　watch　it；　but　after　he　had　seen　the　little
animal　carried　surreptitiously　up…stairs　in　Mr。　William's　arms；　he
relaxed　his　vigilance。　　Some　days　later　the　kitten　appeared　with　a
huge　pink　bow　behind　its　ears；　somewhat　awkwardly　tied；　if　it　must
be　confessed。　　Where　it　came　from；　or　who　put　it　there　was　not
knownuntil　one　day　the　kitten　was　found　in　the　hall　delightedly
chewing　at　the　end　of　what　had　been　a　roll　of　pink　ribbon。　　Up　the
stairs　led　a　trail　of　pink　ribbon　and　curling　white　paperand　the
end　of　the　trail　was　in　William's　room。



CHAPTER　XVIII

BILLY　WRITES　ANOTHER　LETTER


By　the　middle　of　June　only　William　and　the　gray　kitten　were　left
with　Pete　and　Dong　Ling　in　the　Beacon　Street　house。　　Cyril　had
sailed　for　England；　and　Bertram　had　gone　on　a　sketching　trip　with　a
friend。

To　William　the　house　this　summer　was　unusually　lonely；　indeed；　he
found　the　silent；　deserted　rooms　almost　unbearable。　　Even　the
presence　of　the　little　gray　cat　served　only　to　accentuate　the
lonelinessit　reminded　him　of　Billy。

William　missed　Billy。　　He　owned　that　now　even　to　Pete。　　He　said
that　he　would　be　glad　when　she　came　back。　　To　himself　he　said　that
he　wished　he　had　not　fallen　in　quite　so　readily　with　Aunt　Hannah's
notion　of　getting　the　child　away。　　It　was　all　nonsense；　he
declared。　　All　she　needed　was　a　little　curbing　and　directing；　both
of　which　could　just　as　well　have　been　done　there　at　home。　　But　she
had　gone；　and　it　could　not　be　helped　now。　　The　only　thing　left　for
him　to　do　was　to　see　that　it　did　not　occur　again。　　When　Billy　came
back　she　should　stay；　except　for　necessary　absences　for　school；　of
course。　　All　this　William　settled　in　his　own　mind　quite　to　his　own
satisfaction；　entirely　forgetting；　strange　to　say；　that　it　had　been
Billy's　own　suggestion　that　she　go　away。

Very　promptly　William　wrote　to　Billy。　　He　told　her　how　he　missed
her；　and　said　that　he　had　stopped　trying　to　sort　and　catalogue　his
collections　until　she　should　be　there　to　help　him。　　He　told　her；
too；　after　a　time；　of　the　gray　kitten；　〃Spunkie；〃　that　looked　so
much　like　Spunk。

In　reply　he　received　plump　white　envelopes　directed　in　the　round；
schoolboy　hand　that　he　remembered　so　well。　　In　the　envelopes　were
letters；　cheery　and　entertaining；　like　Billy　herself。　　They　thanked
him　for　all　his　many　kindnesses；　and　they　told　him　something　of
what　Billy　was　doing。　　They　showed　unbounded　interest　in　the　new
kitten；　and　in　all　else　that　William　wrote　about；　but　they　hinted
very　plainly　that　he　had　better　not　wait　for　her　to　help　him　out　on
the　catalogue；　for　it　would　soon　be　autumn；　and　she　would　be　in
school。

William　frowned　at　this；　and　shook　his　head；　yet　he　knew　that　it
was　true。

In　August　William　closed　the　Beacon　street　house　and　went　to　the
Rangeley　Lakes　on　a　camping　trip。　　He　told　himself　that　he　would
not　go　had　it　not　been　for　a　promise　given　to　an　old　college　friend
months　before。　　True；　he　had　been　anticipating　this　trip　all
winter；　but　it　occurred　to　him　now　that　it　would　be　much　more
interesting　to　go　to　Hampden　Falls　and　see　Billy。　　He　had　been　to
the　Rangeley　Lakes；　and　he　had　not　been　to　Hampden　Falls；　besides；
there　would　be　Ned　Harding　and　those　queer　old　maids　with　their
shaded　house　and　socketed　chairs　to　see。　　In　short；　to　William；　at
the　moment；　there　seemed　no　place　quite　so　absorbingly　interesting
as　was　Hampden　Falls。　　But　he　went　to　the　Rangeley　Lakes。

In　September　Cyril　came　back　from　Europe；　and　Bertram　from　the
Adirondacks　where　he　had　been　spending　the　month　of　August。
William　already　had　arrived；　and　with　Pete　and　Dong　Ling　had　opened
the　house。

〃Where's　Billy？　　Isn't　Billy　here？〃　demanded　Bertram。

〃No。　　She　isn't　back　yet；〃　replied　William。

〃You　don't　mean　to　say　she's　stayed　up　there　all　summer！〃　exclaimed
Cyril。

〃Why；　yes；　II　suppose　so；〃　hesitated　William。　　〃You　see；　I
haven't　heard　but　once　for　a　month。　　I've　been　down　in　Maine；　you
know。〃

William　wrote　to　Billy　that　night。

〃My　dear：〃　he　said　in　part。　　〃I　hope　you'll　come　home　right　away。
We　want　to　see　SOMETHING　of　you　before　you　go　away　again；　and　you
know　the　schools　will　be　opening　soon。

〃By　the　way；　it　has　just　occurred　to　me　as　I　write　that　perhaps；
after　all；　you　won't　have　to　go　quite　away。　　There　are　plenty　of
good　schools　for　young　ladies　right　in　and　near　Boston；　which　I　am
sure　you　could　attend；　and　still　live　at　home。　　Suppose　you　come
back　then　as　soon　as　you　can；　and　we'll　talk　it　up。　　And　that
reminds　me；　I　wonder　how　Spunk　will　get　along　with　Spunkie。
Spunkie　has　been　boarding　out　all　August　at　a　cat　home；　but　he
seems　glad　to　get　back　to　us。　　I　am　anxious　to　see　the　two　little
chaps　together；　just　to　find　out　how　much　alike　they　really　do
look。〃

Very　promptly　came　Billy's　answer；　but　William's　face；　after　he　had
read　the　letter；　was　almost　as　blank　as　it　had　been　on　that　April
day　when　Billy's　first　letter　camethough　this　time　for　a　far
different　reason。

〃Why；　boys；　sheisn'tcoming；〃　he　announced　in　dismay。

〃Isn't　coming！〃　ejaculated　two　astonished　Voices。

〃No。〃

〃NotatALL？〃

〃Why；　of　course；　later；〃　retorted　William；　with　unwonted　sharpness。
〃But　not　now。　　This　is　what　she　says。〃　　And　he　read　aloud：


〃DEAR　UNCLE　WILLIAM：You　poor　dear　man！　　Did　you　think　I'd　really
let　you　spend　your　time　and　your　thought　over　hunting　up　a　school
for　me；　after　all　the　rest　you　have　done　for　me？　　Not　a　bit　of　it！
Why；　Aunt　Hannah　and　I　have　been　buried　under　school　catalogues　all
summer；　and　I　have　studied　them　all　until　I　know　just　which　has
turkey　dinners　on　Sundays；　and　which　ice　cream　at　least　twice　a
week。　　And　it's　all　settled；　too；　long　ago。　　I'm　going　to　a　girls'
school　up　the　Hudson　a　little　waya　lovely　place；　I'm　sure；　from
the　pictures　of　it。

〃Oh；　and　another　thing；　I　shall　go　right　from　here。　　Two　girls　at
Hampden　Falls　are　going；　and　I　shall　go　with　them。　　Isn't　that　a
fine　chance　for　me？　　You　see　it　would　never　do；　anyway；　for　me　to
go　aloneme；　a　'Billy'unless　I　sent　a　special　courier　ahead　to
announce　that　'Billy'　was　a　girl。

〃Aunt　Hannah　has　decided　to　stay　here　this　winter　in　the　old　house。
She　likes　it　ever　so　much；　and　I　don't　think　I　shall　sell　the　place
just　yet；　anyway。　　She　will　go　back；　of　course；　to　Boston　（after
I've　gone）　to　get　some　things　at　the　house　that　she'll　want；　and
also　to　do　some　shopping。　　But　she'll　let　you　know　when　she'll　be
there。

〃I'll　write　more　later；　but　just　now　I'm　in　a　terrible　rush。　　I
only　write　this　note　to　set　your　poor　heart　at　rest　about　having　to
hunt　up　a　school　for　me。

〃With　love　to　all；

〃BILLY。〃


As　had　happened　once　before　after　a　letter　from　Billy　had　been
read；　there　was　a　long　pause。

〃Well；　by　Jove！〃　breathed　Bertram。

〃It's　very　sensible；　I'm　sure；〃　declared　Cyril。　　〃Still；　I　must
confess；　I　would　have　liked　to　pick　out　her　piano　teacher　for　her。〃

William　said　nothingperhaps　because　he　was　reading　Billy's　letter
again。

At　eight　o'clock　that　night　Bertram　tapped　on　Cyril's　door。

〃What's　the　trouble？〃　demanded　Cyril　in　answer　to　the　look　on　the
other's　face。

Bertram　lifted　his　eyebrows　oddly。

〃I'm　not　sure　whether　you'll　call　it　'trouble'　or　not；〃　he　replied；
〃but　I　think　it's　safe　to　say　that　Billy　is　gonefor　good。〃

〃For　good！　　What　do　you　mean？that　she's　not　coming　backever？〃

〃Exactly　that。〃

〃Nonsense！　　What's　put　that　notion　into　your　head？〃

〃Billy's　letter　first；　after　that；　Pete。〃

〃Pete！〃

〃Yes。　　He　came　to　me　a　few　minutes　ago；　looking　as　if　he　had　seen　a
ghost。　　It　seems　he　swept　Billy's　rooms　this　morning　and　put　them
in　order　against　her　coming；　and　tonight　William　told　him　that　she
wouldn't　be　here　at　present。　　Pete　came　straight　to　me。　　He　said　he
didn't　dare　tell　Mr。　William；　but　he'd　got　to　tell　some　one：　there
wasn't　one　single　thing　of　Miss　Billy's　left　in　her　rooms　nor
anywhere　else　in　the　housenot　so　much　as　a　handkerchief　or　a
hairpin。〃

〃Hm…m；　that　does　looksuspicious；〃　murmured　Cyril。　　〃What's　up；　do
you　think？〃

〃Don't　know；　but　something；　sure。　　Still；　of　course　we　may　be
wrong。　　We　won't　say　anything　to　Will　about　it；　anyhow。　　Poor　old
chap；　'twould　worry　him；　specially　if　he　thought　Billy's　feelings
had　been　hurt。〃

〃Hurt？nonsense！　　Why；　we　did　everything　for　hereverything！〃

〃Yes；　I　knowand　she　tried　to　do　EVERYTHING　for　us；　too；〃　retorted
Bertram；　quizzically；　as　he　turned　away。



CHAPTER　XIX

SEEING　BILLY　OFF


Early　in　October　Mrs。　Stetson　arrived　at　the　Beacon　Street　house；
but　she　did　not　stay　long。

〃I've　come　for　just　a　few　things　I　want；　and　to　do　some　shopping；〃
she　explained。

〃But　Aunt　Hannah；〃　remonstrated　William；　〃what　is　the　meaning　of
this？　　Why　are　you　staying　up　there　at　Hampden　Falls？〃

〃I　like　it　there；　William；　and　why　shouldn't　I　stay？　　Surely
there's　no　need　for　me　to　be　here　now；　with　Billy　away！〃

〃But　Billy's　coming　back！〃

〃Of　course　she's　coming　back；〃　laughed　Aunt　Hannah；　〃but　not　this
winter；　certainly。　　Why；　William；　what's　the　matter？　　I'm　sure；　I
think　it's　a　beautiful　arrangement。　　Why；　don't　you　remember？　　It's
just　what　we　said　we　wantedto　keep　Billy　away　for　awhile。　　And
the　best　part　of　it　is；　it's　her　own　idea　from　the　start。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　I　know；〃　frowned　William：　〃but　I'm　not　sure；　after
all；　that　that　idea　of　ours　wasn't　a　mistake；a　mistake　that　she
needed　to　get　away。〃

〃Never！　　We　were　just　right　about　it；〃　declared　Aunt　Hannah；　with
conviction。

〃And　is　Billyhappy？〃

〃She　seems　to　be。〃

〃Hm…m；　well；　THAT'S　good；〃　said　William；　as　he　turned　to　go　up　to
his　room。　　But　as　he　climbed　the　stairs　he　sighed；　and　to　hear　him；
one　would　have　thought　it　anything　but　good　to　himthat　Billy　was
happy。

One　by　one　the　weeks　passed。　　Mrs。　Stetson　had　long　since　gone　back
to　Hampden　Falls；　and　Bertram　said　that　the　Strata　was　beginning　to
look　natural　again。　　There　remained　now；　indeed；　only　Spunkie；　the
small　gray　cat；　to　remind　any　one　of　the　days　that　were　gone
though；　to　be　sure；　there　were　Billy's　letters；　if　they　might　be
called　a　reminder。

Billy　did　not　write　often。　　She　said　that　she　was　〃too　busy　to
breathe。〃　　Such　letters　as　did　come　from　her　were　addressed　to
William；　though　they　soon　came　to　be　claimed　by　the　entire　family。
Bertram　and　Cyril　frankly　demanded　that　William　read　them　aloud；
and　even　Pete　always　contrived　to　have　some　dusting　or　〃puttering〃
within　earshota　subterfuge　quite　well　understood；　but　never
reproved　by　any　of　the　brothers。

When　the　Christmas　vacation　drew　near；　William　wrote　that　he　hoped
Billy　and　Aunt　Hannah　would　spend　it　wi