miss billy-第16章

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roguish　merriment。　　〃Moreover；　I　think　that　some　day；　some　one　of
themwill　marry；　Sir　Doubtful！〃

Calderwell　threw　a　quick　glance　into　her　eyes。　　Evidently　something
he　saw　there　sent　a　swift　shadow　to　his　own。　　He　waited　a　moment；
then　asked　abruptly：

〃Billy；　WON'T　you　marry　me？〃

Billy　frowned；　though　her　eyes　still　laughed。

〃Hugh；　I　told　you　not　to　ask　me　that　again；〃　she　demurred。

〃And　I　told　you　not　to　ask　impossibilities　of　me；〃　he　retorted
imperturbably。　　〃Billy；　won't　you；　nowseriously？　〃

〃Seriously；　no；　Hugh。　　Please　don't　let　us　go　all　over　that　again
when　we've　done　it　so　many　times。〃

〃No；　let's　don't；〃　agreed　the　man；　cheerfully。　　〃And　we　don't　have
to；　either；　if　you'll　only　say　'yes；'　now　right　away；　without　any
more　fuss。〃

Billy　sighed　impatiently。

〃Hugh；　won't　you　understand　that　I'm　serious？〃　she　cried；　then　she
turned　suddenly；　with　a　peculiar　flash　in　her　eyes。

〃Hugh；　I　don't　believe　Bertram　himself　could　make　love　any　more
nonsensically　than　you　can！〃

Calderwell　laughed；　but　he　frowned；　too；　and　again　he　threw　into
Billy's　face　that　keenly　questioning　glance。　　He　said　somethinga
light　somethingthat　brought　the　laugh　to　Billy's　lips　in　spite　of
herself；　but　he　was　still　frowning　when　he　left　the　house　some
minutes　later；　and　the　shadow　was　not　gone　from　his　eyes。



CHAPTER　XXIII

BERTRAM　DOES　SOME　QUESTIONING


Billy's　time　was　well　occupied。　　There　were　so　many；　many　things
she　wished　to　do；　and　so　few；　few　hours　in　which　to　do　them。　　First
there　was　her　music。　　She　made　arrangements　at　once　to　study　with
one　of　Boston's　best　piano　teachers；　and　she　also　made　plans　to
continue　her　French　and　German。　　She　joined　a　musical　club；　a
literary　club；　and　a　more　strictly　social　club；　and　to　numerous
church　charities　and　philanthropic　enterprises　she　lent　more　than
her　name；　giving　freely　of　both　time　and　money。

Friday　afternoons；　of　course；　were　to　be　held　sacred　to　the
Symphony　concerts；　and　on　certain　Wednesday　mornings　there　was　to
be　a　series　of　recitals；　in　which　she　was　greatly　interested。

For　Society　with　a　capital　S；　Billy　cared　little；　but　for
sociability　with　a　small　s；　she　cared　much；　and　very　wide　she
opened　her　doors　to　her　friends；　lavishing　upon　them　a　wealth　of
hospitality。　　Nor　did　they　all　come　in　carriages　or　automobiles
these　friends。　　A　certain　pale…faced　little　widow　over　at　the　South
End　knew　just　how　good　Miss　Neilson's　tea　tasted　on　a　crisp　October
afternoon　and　Marie　Hawthorn；　a　frail　young　woman　who　gave　music
lessons；　knew　just　how　restful　was　Miss　Neilson's　couch　after　a
weary　day　of　long　walks　and　fretful　pupils。

〃But　how　in　the　world　do　you　discover　them　allthese　forlorn
specimens　of　humanity？〃　queried　Bertram　one　evening；　when　he　had
found　Billy　entertaining　a　freckled…faced　messenger…boy　with　a
plate　of　ice　cream　and　a　big　square　of　cake。

〃Anywhereeverywhere；〃　smiled　Billy。

〃Well；　this　last　candidate　for　your　favor；　who　has　just　gonewho's
he？〃

〃I　don't　know；　beyond　that　his　name　is　'Tom；'　and　that　he　likes　ice
cream。〃

〃And　you　never　saw　him　before？〃

〃Never。〃

〃Humph！　　One　wouldn't　think　it；　to　see　his　charming　air　of
nonchalant　accustomedness。〃

〃Oh；　but　it　doesn't　take　much　to　make　a　little　fellow　like　that
feel　at　home；〃　laughed　Billy。

〃And　are　you　in　the　habit　of　feeding　every　one　who　comes　to　your
house；　on　ice　cream　and　chocolate　cake？　　I　thought　that　stone
doorstep　of　yours　was　looking　a　little　worn。〃

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　retorted　Billy。　　〃This　little　chap　came　with　a
message　just　as　I　was　finishing　dinner。　　The　ice　cream　was
particularly　good　to…night；　and　it　occurred　to　me　that　he　might
like　a　taste；　so　I　gave　it　to　him。〃

Bertram　raised　his　eyebrows　quizzically。

〃Very　kind；　of　course；　butwhy　ice　cream？〃　he　questioned。　　〃I
thought　it　was　roast　beef　and　boiled　potatoes　that　was　supposed　to
be　handed　out　to　gaunt…eyed　hunger。〃

〃It　is；〃　nodded　Billy；　〃and　that's　why　I　think　sometimes　they'd
like　ice　cream　and　chocolate　frosting。　　Besides；　to　give　sugar
plums　one　doesn't　have　to　unwind　yards　of　red　tape；　or　worry　about
'pauperizing　the　poor。'　　To　give　red　flannels　and　a　ton　of　coal；
one　must　be　properly　circumspect　and　consult　records　and　city
missionaries；　of　course；　and　that's　why　it's　such　a　relief
sometimes　just　to　hand　over　a　simple　little　sugar　plum　and　see　them
smile。〃

For　a　minute　Bertram　was　silent；　then　he　asked　abruptly：

〃Billy；　why　did　you　leave　the　Strata？〃

Billy　was　taken　quite　by　surprise。　　A　pink　flush　spread　to　her
forehead；　and　her　tongue　stumbled　at　first　over　her　reply。

〃Why；　Iit　seemedyouwhy；　I　left　to　go　to　Hampden　Falls；　to　be
sure。　　Don't　you　remember？〃　she　finished　gaily。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　remember　THAT；〃　conceded　Bertram　with　disdainful
emphasis。　　〃But　why　did　you　go　to　Hampden　Falls？〃

〃Why；　itit　was　the　only　place　to　gothat　is；　I　WANTED　to　go
there；〃　she　corrected　hastily。　　〃Didn't　Aunt　Hannah　tell　you　that
II　was　homesick　to　get　back　there？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　Aunt　Hannah　SAID　that；〃　observed　the　man；　〃but　wasn't
that　homesickness　a　littlesudden？〃

Billy　blushed　pink　again。

〃Why；　maybe；　butwell；　homesickness　is　always　more　or　less　sudden；
isn't　it？〃　she　parried。

Bertram　laughed；　but　his　eyes　grew　suddenly　almost　tender。

〃See　here；　Billy；　you　can't　bluff　worth　a　cent；〃　he　declared。　　〃You
are　much　too　refreshingly　frank　for　that。　　Something　was　the
trouble。　　Now　what　was　it？　　Won't　you　tell　me；　please？〃

Billy　pouted。　　She　hesitated　and　gazed　anywhere　but　into　the
challenging　eyes　before　her。　　Then　very　suddenly　she　looked
straight　into　them。

〃Very　well；　there　WAS　a　reason　for　my　leaving；〃　she　confessed　a
little　breathlessly。　　〃Ididn't　want　tobother　you　any　moreall
of　you。〃

〃Bother　us！〃

〃No。　　I　found　out。　　You　couldn't　paint；　Mr。　Cyril　couldn't　play　or
write；　andand　everything　was　different　because　I　was　there。　　But
I　didn't　blame　youno；　no！〃　she　assured　him　hastily。　　〃It　was　only
that　Ifound　out。〃

〃And　may　I　ask　HOW　you　obtained　this　most　extraordinary　information？〃
demanded　Bertram；　savagely。

Billy　shook　her　head。　　Her　round　little　chin　looked　suddenly　square
and　determined。

〃You　may　ask；　but　I　shall　not　tell；〃　she　declared　firmly。

If　Bertram　had　known　Billy　just　a　little　better　he　would　have　let
the　matter　drop　there；　but　he　did　not　know　Billy；　so　he　asked：

〃Was　it　anything　I　didor　said？〃

The　girl　did　not　answer。

〃Billy；　was　it？〃　　Bertram's　voice　showed　terror　now。

Billy　laughed　unexpectedly。

〃Do　you　think　I'm　going　to　say　'no'　to　a　series　of　questions；　and
then　give　the　whole　thing　away　by　my　silence　when　you　come　to　the
right　one？〃　she　demanded　merrily。　　〃No；　sir！〃

〃Well；　anyhow；　it　wasn't　I；　then；〃　sighed　the　man　in　relief；　〃for
you　just　observed　that　you　were　not　going　to　say　'no　to　a　series　of
questions'and　that　was　the　first　one。　　So　I've　found　out　that
much；　anyhow；〃　he　concluded　triumphantly。

The　girl　eyed　him　for　a　moment　in　silence；　then　she　shook　her　head。

〃I'm　not　going　to　be　caught　that　way；　either；〃　she　smiled。　　〃You
knowjust　what　you　did　in　the　first　place　about　it：　nothing。〃

The　man　stirred　restlessly　and　pondered。　　After　a　long　pause　he
adopted　new　tactics。　　With　a　searching　study　of　her　face　to　note
the　slightest　change；　he　enumerated：

〃Was　it　Cyril；　then？　　Will？　　Aunt　Hannah？　　Kate？　　It　couldn't　have
been　Pete；　or　Dong　Ling！〃

Billy　still　smiled　inscrutably。　　At　no　name　had　Bertram　detected　so
much　as　the　flicker　of　an　eyelid；　and　with　a　glance　half…admiring；
half…chagrined；　he　fell　back　into　his　chair。

〃I'll　give　it　up。　　You've　won；〃　he　acknowledged。　　〃But；　Billy；〃
his　manner　changed　suddenly〃I　wonder　if　you　know　just　what　a　hole
you　left　in　the　Strata　when　you　went　away。〃

〃But　I　couldn't　havein　the　whole　Strata；〃　objected　Billy。　　〃I
occupied　only　one　stratum；　and　a　stratum　doesn't　go　up　and　down；
you　know；　only　across；　and　mine　was　the　second　floor。〃

Bertram　gave　a　slow　shake　of　his　head。

〃I　know；　but　yours　was　a　freak　formation；〃　he　maintained　gravely。
〃It　DID　go　up　and　down。　　Honestly；　Billy；　we　did　carelots。　　Will
and　I　were　inconsolable；　and　even　Cyril　played　dirges　for　a　week。〃

〃Did　he？〃　gurgled　Billy；　with　sudden　joyousness。　　〃I'm　so　glad！〃

〃Thank　you；〃　murmured　Bertram；　disapprovingly。　　〃We　hadn't
considered　it　a　subject　for　exultation。〃

〃What？　　Oh；　I　didn't　mean　that！　　That　is〃　she　stopped　helplessly。

〃Oh；　never　mind　about　trying　to　explain；〃　interposed　Bertram。　　〃I
fancy　the　remedy　would　be　worse　than　the　disease；　in　this　case。〃

〃Nonsense！　　I　only　meant　that　I　like　to　be　missedsometimes；〃
retorted　Billy；　a　little　nettled。

〃And　you　rejoice　then　to　have　me　mope；　Cyril　play　dirges；　and　Will
wander　mournfully　about　the　house　with　Spunkie　in　his　arms！　　You
should　have　seen　William。　　If　his　forlornness　did　not　bring　tears
to　your　eyes；　the　grace　of　the　pink　bow　that　lopped　behind
Spunkie's　left　ear　would　surely　have　brought　a　copious　flow。〃

Billy　laughed；　but　her　eyes　grew　tender。

〃Did　Uncle　William　dothat？〃　she　asked。

〃He　didand　he　did　more。　　Pete　told　me　after　a　time　that　you　had
not　left　one　thing　in　the　house；　anywhere；　but　one　day；　over　behind
William's　most　treasured　Lowestoft；　I　found　a　small　shell　hairpin；
and　a　flat　brown　silk　button　that　I　recognized　as　coming　from　one
of　your　dresses。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Billy；　softly。　　〃Dear　Uncle　Williamand　how　good　he　was
to　me！〃



CHAPTER　XXIV

CYRIL；　THE　ENIGMA


Perhaps　it　was　because　Billy　saw　so　little　of　Cyril　that　it　was
Cyril　whom　she　wished　particularly　to　see。　　William；　Bertram；
Calderwellall　her　other　friends　came　frequently　to　the　little
house　on　the　hill；　Billy　told　herself；　only　Cyril　held　aloofand
it　was　Cyril　that　she　wanted。

Billy　said　that　it　was　his　music；　that　she　wanted　to　hear　him　play；
and　that　she　wanted　him　to　hear　her。　　She　felt　grieved　and
chagrined。　　Not　once　since　she　had　come　had　he　seemed　interested
really　interested　in　her　music。　　He　had　asked　her；　it　is　true；　in　a
perfunctory　way　what　she　had　done；　and　who　her　teachers　had　been。
But　all　the　while　she　was　answering　she　had　felt　that　he　was　not
listening；　that　he　did　not　care。　　And　she　cared　so　much！　　She　knew
now　that　all　her　practising　through　the　long　hard　months　of　study；
had　been　for　Cyril。　　Every　scale　had　been　smoothed　for　his　ears；
and　every　phrase　had　been　interpreted　with　his　approbation　in　view。
Across　the　wide　waste　of　waters　his　face　had　shone　like　a　star　of
promise；　beckoning　her　on　and　on　to　heights　unknown。　。　。　　And　now
she　was　here　in　Boston；　but　she　could　not　even　play　the　scale；　nor
interpret　the　phrase　for　the　ear　to　which　they　had　been　so
laboriously　attuned；　and　Cyril's　face；　in　the　flesh；　was　no
beckoning　star　of　promise；　but　was　a　thing　as　cold　and　relentless
as　was　the　waste　of　waters　across　which　it　had　shone　in　the　past。

Billy　did　not　understand　it。　　She　knew；　it　is　true；　of　Cyril's
reputed　aversion　to　women　in　general　and　to　noise；　but　she　was
neither　women　in　general　nor　noise；　she　told　herself　indignantly。
She　was　only　the　little　maid；　grown　three　years　older；　who　had　sat
at　his　feet　and　adoringly　listened　to　all　that　he　had　been　pleased
to　say　in　the　old　days　at　the　t