miss billy-第17章

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at　his　feet　and　adoringly　listened　to　all　that　he　had　been　pleased
to　say　in　the　old　days　at　the　top　of　the　Strata。　　And　he　had　been
kind　thenvery　kind；　Billy　declared　stoutly。　　He　had　been　patient
and　interested；　too；　and　he　had　seemed　not　only　willing；　but　glad
to　teach　her；　while　now

Sometimes　Billy　thought　she　would　ask　him　candidly　what　was　the
matter。　　But　it　was　always　the　old；　frank　Billy　that　thought　this；
the　impulsive　Billy；　that　had　gone　up　to　Cyril's　rooms　years　before
and　cheerfully　announced　that　she　had　come　to　get　acquainted。　　It
was　never　the　sensible；　circumspect　Billy　that　Aunt　Hannah　had　for
three　years　been　shaping　and　coaxing　into　being。　　But　even　this
Billy　frowned　rebelliously；　and　declared　that　sometime　something
should　be　said　that　would　at　least　give　him　a　chance　to　explain。

In　all　the　weeks　since　Billy's　purchase　of　Hillside；　Cyril　had　been
there　only　twice；　and　it　was　nearly　Thanksgiving　now。　　Billy　had
seen　him　once　or　twice；　also；　at　the　Beacon　Street　house；　when　she
and　Aunt　Hannah　had　dined　there；　but　on　all　these　occasions　he　had
been　either　the　coldly　reserved　guest　or　the　painfully　punctilious
host。　　Never　had　he　been　in　the　least　approachable。

〃He　treats　me　exactly　as　he　treated　poor　little　Spunk　that　first
night；〃　Billy　declared　hotly　to　herself。

Only　once　since　she　came　had　Billy　heard　Cyril　play；　and　that　was
when　she　had　shared　the　privilege　with　hundreds　of　others　at　a
public　concert。　　She　had　sat　then　entranced；　with　her　eyes　on　the
clean…cut　handsome　profile　of　the　man　who　played　with　so　sure　a
skill　and　power；　yet　without　a　note　before　him。　　Afterward　she　had
met　him　face　to　face；　and　had　tried　to　tell　him　how　moved　she　was；
but　in　her　agitation；　and　because　of　a　strange　shyness　that　had
suddenly　come　to　her；　she　had　ended　only　in　stammering　out　some
flippant　banality　that　had　brought　to　his　face　merely　a　bored　smile
of　acknowledgment。

Twice　she　had　asked　him　to　play　for　her；　but　each　time　he　had
begged　to　be　excused；　courteously；　but　decidedly。

〃It's　no　use　to　tease；〃　Bertram　had　interposed　once；　with　an　airy
wave　of　his　hands。　　〃This　lion　always　did　refuse　to　roar　to　order。
If　you　really　must　hear　him；　you'll　have　to　slip　up…stairs　and　camp
outside　his　door；　waiting　patiently　for　such　crumbs　as　may　fall
from　his　table。〃

〃Aren't　your　metaphors　a　little　mixed？〃　questioned　Cyril　irritably。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　acknowledged　Bertram　with　unruffled　temper。　　〃but　I
don't　mind　if　Billy　doesn't。　　I　only　meant　her　to　understand　that
she'd　have　to　do　as　she　used　to　dolisten　outside　your　door。〃

Billy's　cheeks　reddened。

〃But　that　is　what　I　sha'n't　do；〃　she　retorted　with　spirit。　　〃And；
moreover；　I　still　have　hopes　that　some　day　he'll　play　to　me。〃

〃Maybe；〃　conceded　Bertram；　doubtfully；　〃if　the　stool　and　the　piano
and　the　pedals　and　the　weather　and　his　fingers　and　your　ears　and　my
watch　are　all　just　rightthen　he'll　play。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　scowled　Cyril。　　〃I'll　play；　of　course；　some　day。　　But
I'd　rather　not　today。〃　　And　there　the　matter　had　ended。　　Since　then
Billy　had　not　asked　him　to　play。



CHAPTER　XXV

THE　OLD　ROOMAND　BILLY


Thanksgiving　was　to　be　a　great　day　in　the　Henshaw　family。　　The
Henshaw　brothers　were　to　entertain。　　Billy　and　Aunt　Hannah　had　been
invited　to　dinner；　and　so　joyously　hospitable　was　William's
invitation　that　it　would　have　included　the　new　kitten　and　the
canary　if　Billy　would　have　consented　to　bring　them。

Once　more　Pete　swept　and　garnished　the　house；　and　once　more　Dong
Ling　spoiled　uncounted　squares　of　chocolate　trying　to　make　the
baffling　fudge。　　Bertram　said　that　the　entire　Strata　was　a…quiver。
Not　but　that　Billy　and　Aunt　Hannah　had　visited　there　before；　but
that　this　was　different。　　They　were　to　come　at　noon　this　time。
This　visit　was　not　to　be　a　tantalizing　little　piece　of　stiffness　an
hour　and　a　half　long。　　It　was　to　be　a　satisfying；　whole…souled
matter　of　half　a　day's　comradeship；　almost　like　old　times。　　So　once
more　the　roses　graced　the　rooms；　and　a　flaring　pink　bow　adorned
Spunkie's　fat　neck；　and　once　more　Bertram　placed　his　latest　〃Face
of　a　Girl〃　in　the　best　possible　light。　　There　was　still　a
difference；　however；　for　this　time　Cyril　did　not　bring　any　music
down　to　the　piano；　nor　display　anywhere　a　copy　of　his　newest　book。

The　dinner　was　to　be　at　three　o'clock；　but　by　special　invitation
the　guests　were　to　arrive　at　twelve；　and　promptly　at　the　appointed
hour　they　came。

〃There；　this　is　something　like；〃　exulted　Bertram；　when　the　ladies；
divested　of　their　wraps；　toasted　their　feet　before　the　open　fire　in
his　den。

〃Indeed　it　is；　for　now　I've　time　to　see　everythingeverything
you've　done　since　I've　been　gone；〃　cried　Billy；　gazing　eagerly
about　her。

〃Hm…m；　well；　THAT　wasn't　what　I　meant；〃　shrugged　Bertram。

〃Of　course　not；　but　it's　what　I　meant；〃　retorted　Billy。　　〃And　there
are　other　things；　too。　　I　expect　there　are　half　a　dozen　new　'Old
Blues'　and　black　basalts　that　I　want　to　see；　eh；　Uncle　William？〃
she　finished；　smiling　into　the　eyes　of　the　man　who　had　been　gazing
at　her　with　doting　pride　for　the　last　five　minutes。

〃Ho！　　Will　isn't　on　teapots　now；〃　quoth　Bertram；　before　his　brother
had　a　chance　to　reply。　　〃You　might　dangle　the　oldest　'Old　Blue'
that　ever　was　before　him　now；　and　he'd　pay　scant　attention　if　he
happened　at　the　same　time　to　get　his　eyes　on　some　old　pewter　chain
with　a　green　stone　in　it。〃

Billy　laughed；　but　at　the　look　of　genuine　distress　that　came　into
William's　face；　she　sobered　at　once。

〃Don't　you　let　him　tease　you；　Uncle　William；〃　she　said　quickly。
〃I'm　sure　pewter　chains　with　green　stones　in　them　sound　just
awfully　interesting；　and　I　want　to　see　them　right　away　now。　　Come；〃
she　finished；　springing　to　her　feet；　〃take　me　up…stairs；　please；
and　show　them　to　me。〃

William　shook　his　head　and　said；　〃No；　no！〃　protesting　that　what　he
had　were　scarcely　worth　her　attention；　but　even　while　he　talked　he
rose　to　his　feet　and　advanced　half　eagerly；　half　reluctantly；
toward　the　door。

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Billy；　fondly；　as　she　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm。
〃I　know　they　are　very　much　worth　seeing。　　Come！〃　　And　she　led　the
way　from　the　room。　　〃Oh；　oh！〃　she　exclaimed　a　few　moments　later；　as
she　stood　before　a　small　cabinet　in　one　of　William's　rooms。　　〃Oh；
oh；　how　pretty！〃

〃Do　you　like　them？　　I　thought　you　would；〃　triumphed　William；　quick
joy　driving　away　the　anxious　fear　in　his　eyes。　　〃You　see；　II
thought　of　you　when　I　got　themevery　one　of　them。　　I　thought　you'd
like　them。　　But　I　haven't　very　many；　yet；　of　course。　　This　is　the
latest　one。〃　　And　he　tenderly　lifted　from　its　black　velvet　mat　a
curious　silver　necklace　made　of　small；　flat；　chain…linked　disks；
heavily　chased；　and　set　at　regular　intervals　with　a　strange；　blue…
green　stone。

Billy　hung　above　it　enraptured。

〃Oh；　what　a　beauty！　　And　this；　I　suppose；　is　Bertram's　'pewter
chain'！　　'Pewter；'　indeed！〃　she　scoffed。　　〃Tell　me；　Uncle　William；
where　did　you　get　it？〃

And　uncle　William　told；　happily；　thirstily；　drinking　in　Billy's
evident　interest　with　delight。　　There　were；　too；　a　quaintly…set
ring　and　a　cat's…eye　brooch；　and　to　each　belonged　a　story　which
William　was　equally　glad　to　tell。　　There　were　other　treasures；
also：　buckles；　rings；　brooches；　and　necklaces；　some　of　dull　gold；
some　of　equally　dull　silver；　but　all　of　odd　design　and　curious
workmanship；　studded　here　and　there　with　bits　of　red；　green；
yellow；　blue；　and　flame…colored　stones。　　Very　learnedly　then　from
William's　lips　fell　the　new　vocabulary　that　had　come　to　him　with
his　latest　treasures：　chrysoprase；　carnelian；　girasol；　onyx；
plasma；　sardonyx；　lapis　lazuli；　tourmaline；　chrysolite；　hyacinth；
and　carbuncle。

〃They　are　lovely；　perfectly　lovely！〃　breathed　Billy；　when　the　last
chain　had　slipped　through　her　fingers　into　William's　hand。　　〃I
think　they　are　the　very　nicest　things　you　ever　collected。〃

〃So　do　I；〃　agreed　the　man；　emphatically。　　〃And　they　aredifferent；
too。〃

〃They　are；〃　said　Billy；　〃verydifferent。〃　　But　she　was　not　looking
at　the　jewelry：　her　eyes　were　on　a　small　shell　hairpin　and　a　brown
silk　button　half　hidden　behind　a　Lowestoft　teapot。

On　the　way　down…stairs　William　stopped　a　moment　at　Billy's　old
rooms。

〃I　wish　you　were　here　now；〃　he　said　wistfully。　　〃They're　all　ready
for　youthese　rooms。〃

〃Oh；　but　why　don't　you　use　them？such　pretty　rooms！〃　cried　Billy；
quickly。

William　gave　a　gesture　of　dissent。

〃We　have　no　use　for　them；　besides；　they　belong　to　you　and　Aunt
Hannah。　　You　left　your　imprint　long　ago；　my　dearwe　should　not
feel　at　home　in　them。〃

〃Oh；　but　you　should！　　You　mustn't　feel　like　that！〃　objected　Billy；
hurriedly　crossing　the　room　to　the　window　to　hide　a　sudden
nervousness　that　had　assailed　her。　　〃And　here's　my　piano；　too；　and
open！〃　she　finished　gaily；　dropping　herself　upon　the　piano　stool
and　dashing　into　a　brilliant　mazourka。

Billy；　like　Cyril；　had　a　way　of　working　off　her　moods　at　her　finger
tips；　and　to…day　the　tripping　notes　and　crashing　chords　told　of　a
nervous　excitement　that　was　not　all　joy。　　From　the　doorway　William
watched　her　flying　fingers　with　fond　pride；　and　it　was　very
reluctantly　that　he　acceded　to　Pete's　request　to　go　down…stairs　for
a　moment　to　settle　a　vexed　question　concerning　the　table
decorations。

Billy；　left　alone；　still　played；　but　with　a　difference。　　The
tripping　notes　slowed　into　a　weird　melody　that　rose　and　fell　and
lost　itself　in　the　exquisite　harmony　that　had　been　born　of　the
crashing　chords。　　Billy　was　improvising　now；　and　into　her　music　had
crept　something　of　her　old…time　longing　when　she　had　come　to　that
house　a　lonely；　orphan　girl；　in　search　of　a　home。　　On　and　on　she
played；　then　with　a　discordant　note；　she　suddenly　rose　from　the
piano。　　She　was　thinking　of　Kate；　and　wondering　if；　had　Kate　not
〃managed〃　the　little　room　would　still　be　home。

So　swiftly　did　Billy　cross　to　the　door　that　the　man　on　the　stairs
outside　had　not　time　to　get　quite　out　of　sight。　　Billy　did　not　see
his　face；　however；　she　saw　only　a　pair　of　gray…trousered　legs
disappearing　around　the　curve　of　the　landing　above。　　She　thought
nothing　of　it　until　later　when　dinner　was　announced；　and　Cyril　came
down…stairs；　then　she　saw　that　he；　and　he　only；　that　afternoon　wore
trousers　of　that　particular　shade　of　gray。

The　dinner　was　a　great　success。　　Even　the　chocolate　fudge　in　the
little　cut　glass　bonbon　dishes　was　perfect；　and　it　was　a　question
whether　Pete　or　Dong　Ling　tried　the　harder　to　please。

After　dinner　the　family　gathered　in　the　drawing…room　and　chatted
pleasantly。　　Bertram　displayed　his　prettiest　and　newest　pictures；
and　Billy　played　and　sungbright；　tuneful　little　things　that　she
knew　Aunt　Hannah　and　Uncle　William　liked。　　If　Cyril　was　pleased　or
displeased；　he　did　not　show　itbut　Billy　had　ceased　to　play　for
Cyril's　ears。　　She　told　herself　that　she　did　not　care；　but　she　did
wonder：　was　that　Cyril　on　the　stairs；　and　if　sowhat　was　he　doing
there？



CHAPTER　XXVI

〃MUSIC　HATH　CHARMS〃


Two　days　after　Thanksgiving　Cyril　called　at　Hillside。

〃I've　come　to　hear　you　play；〃　he　announced　abruptly。

Billy's　heart　sung　within　herbut　her　temper　rose。　　Did　he　think
then　that　he　had　but　to　beckon　and　she　would　comeand　at　this