miss billy-第18章

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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　late
day；　she　asked　herself。　　Aloud　she　said：

〃Play？　　But　this　is　'so　sudden'！　　Besides；　you　have　heard　me。〃

The　man　made　a　disdainful　gesture。

〃Not　that。　　I　mean　playreally　play。　　Billy；　why　haven't　you
played　to　me　before？〃

Billy's　chin　rose　perceptibly。

〃Why　haven't　you　asked　me？〃　she　parried。

To　Billy's　surprise　the　man　answered　this　with　calm　directness。

〃Because　Calderwell　said　that　you　were　a　dandy　player；　and　I　don't
care　for　dandy　players。〃

Billy　laughed　now。

〃And　how　do　you　know　I'm　not　a　dandy　player；　Sir　Impertinent？〃　she
demanded。

〃Because　I've　heard　youwhen　you　weren't。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　murmured　Billy。

Cyril　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Oh；　you　know　very　well　what　I　mean；〃　he　defended。　　〃I've　heard
you；　that's　all。〃

〃When？〃

〃That　doesn't　signify。〃

Billy　was　silent　for　a　moment；　her　eyes　gravely　studying　his　face。
Then　she　asked：

〃Were　you　longon　that　stairway？〃

〃Eh？　　What？　　Oh！〃　　Cyril's　forehead　grew　suddenly　pink。　　〃Well？〃　he
finished　a　little　aggressively。

〃Oh；　nothing；〃　smiled　the　girl。　　〃Of　course　people　who　live　in
glass　houses　must　not　throw　stones。〃

〃Very　well　then；　I　did　listen；〃　acknowledged　the　man；　testily。　　〃I
liked　what　you　were　playing。　　I　hoped；　down…stairs　later；　that
you'd　play　it　again；　but　you　didn't。　　I　came　to…day　to　hear　it。〃

Again　Billy's　heart　sung　within　herbut　again　her　temper　rose；
too。

〃I　don't　think　I　feel　like　it；〃　she　said　sweetly；　with　a　shake　of
her　head。　　〃Not　to…day。〃

For　a　brief　moment　Cyril　stared　frowningly；　then　his　face　lighted
with　his　rare　smile。

〃I'm　fairly　checkmated；〃　he　said；　rising　to　his　feet　and　going
straight　to　the　piano。

For　long　minutes　he　played；　modulating　from　one　enchanting
composition　to　another；　and　finishing　with　the　one　〃all　chords　with
big　bass　notes〃　that　marched　on　and　onthe　one　Billy　had　sat　long
ago　on　the　stairs　to　hear。

〃There！　　Now　will　you　play　for　me？〃　he　asked；　rising　to　his　feet；
and　turning　reproachful　eyes　upon　her。

Billy；　too；　rose　to　her　feet。　　Her　face　was　flushed　and　her　eyes
were　shining。　　Her　lips　quivered　with　emotion。　　As　was　always　the
case；　Cyril's　music　had　carried　her　quite　out　of　herself。

〃Oh；　thank　you；　thank　you；〃　she　sighed。　　〃You　don't　knowyou　can't
know　how　beautiful　it　all　isto　me！〃

〃Thank　you。　　Then　surely　now　you'll　play　to　me；〃　he　returned。

A　look　of　real　distress　came　to　Billy's　face。

〃But　I　can'tnot　what　you　heard　the　other　day；〃　she　cried
remorsefully。　　〃You　see；　I　wasonly　improvising。〃

Cyril　turned　quickly。

〃Only　improvising！　　Billy；　did　you　ever　write　it　downany　of　your
improvising？〃

An　embarrassed　red　flew　to　Billy's　face。

〃Notnot　that　amounted　towell；　that　is；　somea　little；〃　she
stammered。

〃Let　me　see　it。〃

〃No；　no；　I　couldn'tnot　YOU！〃

Again　the　rare　smile　lighted　Cyril's　eyes。

〃Billy；　let　me　see　that　paperplease。〃

Very　slowly　the　girl　turned　toward　the　music　cabinet。　　She
hesitated；　glanced　once　more　appealingly　into　Cyril's　face；　then
with　nervous　haste　opened　the　little　mahogany　door　and　took　from
one　of　the　shelves　a　sheet　of　manuscript　music。　　But；　like　a　shy
child　with　her　first　copy　book；　she　held　it　half　behind　her　back　as
she　came　toward　the　piano。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Cyril　as　he　reached　far　out　for　the　music。　　The
next　moment　he　seated　himself　again　at　the　piano。

Twice　he　played　the　little　song　through　carefully；　slowly。

〃Now；　sing　it；〃　he　directed。

Falteringly；　in　a　very　faint　voice；　and　with　very　many　breaths
taken　where　they　should　not　have　been　taken；　Billy　obeyed。

〃When　we　want　to　show　off　your　song；　Billy；　we　won't　ask　you　to
sing　it；〃　observed　the　man；　dryly；　when　she　had　finished。

Billy　laughed　and　dimpled　into　a　blush。

〃When　I　want　to　show　off　my　song　I　sha'n't　be　singing　it　to　you　for
the　first　time；〃　she　pouted。

Cyril　did　not　answer。　　He　was　playing　over　and　over　certain
harmonies　in　the　music　before　him。

〃Hm…m；　I　see　you've　studied　your　counterpoint　to　some　purpose；〃　he
vouchsafed；　finally；　then：　　〃Where　did　you　get　the　words？〃

The　girl　hesitated。　　The　flush　had　deepened　on　her　face。

〃Well；　I〃　she　stopped　and　gave　an　embarrassed　laugh。　　〃I'm　like
the　small　boy　who　made　the　toys。　　'I　got　them　all　out　of　my　own
head；　and　there's　wood　enough　to　make　another。'〃

〃Hm…m；　indeed！〃　grunted　the　man。　　〃Well；　have　you　made　any　others？〃

〃Oneor　two；　maybe。〃

〃Let　me　see　them；　please。〃

〃I　thinkwe've　had　enoughfor　today；〃　she　faltered。

〃I　haven't。　　Besides；　if　I　could　have　a　couple　more　to　go　with
this；　it　would　make　a　very　pretty　little　group　of　songs。〃

〃'To　go　with　this'！　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃To　the　publishers；　of　course。〃

〃The　PUBLISHERS！〃

〃Certainly。　　Did　you　think　you　were　going　to　keep　these　songs　to
yourself？〃

〃But　they　aren't　worth　it！　　They　can't　begood　enough！〃
Unbelieving　joy　was　in　Billy's　voice。

〃No？　　Well；　we'll　let　others　decide　that；〃　observed　Cyril；　with　a
shrug。　　〃All　is；　if　you've　got　any　more　woodlike　thisI　advise
you　to　make　it　up　right　away。〃

〃But　I　have　already！〃　cried　the　girl；　excitedly。　　〃There　are　lots
of　little　things　that　I'vethat　is；　there　aresome；〃　she
corrected　hastily；　at　the　look　that　sprang　into　Cyril's　eyes。

〃Oh；　there　are；〃　laughed　Cyril。　　〃Well；　we'll　see　what〃　　But　he
did　not　see。　　He　did　not　even　finish　his　sentence；　for　Billy's
maid；　Rosa；　appeared　just　then　with　a　card。

〃Show　Mr。　Calderwell　in　here；〃　said　Billy。　　Cyril　said　nothing
aloud；　which　was　well。　　His　thoughts；　just　then；　were　better　left
unspoken。



CHAPTER　XXVII

MARIE；　WHO　LONGS　TO　MAKE　PUDDINGS


Wonderful　days　came　then　to　Billy。　　Four　songs；　it　seemed；　had　been
pronounced　by　competent　critics　decidedly　〃worth　it〃unmistakably
〃good　enough〃；　and　they　were　to　be　brought　out　as　soon　as　possible。

〃Of　course　you　understand；〃　explained　Cyril；　〃that　there's　no　'hit'
expected。　　Thank　heaven　they　aren't　that　sort！　　And　there's　no
great　money　in　it；　either。　　You'd　have　to　write　a　masterpiece　like
'She's　my　Ju…Ju　Baby'　or　some　such　gem　to　get　the　'hit'　and　the
money。　　But　the　songs　are　fine；　and　they'll　take　with　cultured
hearers。　　We'll　get　them　introduced　by　good　singers；　of　course；　and
they'll　be　favorites　soon　for　the　concert　stage；　and　for　parlors。〃

Billy　saw　a　good　deal　of　Cyril　now。　　Already　she　was　at　work
rewriting　and　polishing　some　of　her　half…completed　melodies；　and
Cyril　was　helping　her；　by　his　interest　as　well　as　by　his　criticism。
He　was；　in　fact；　at　the　house　very　frequentlytoo　frequently；
indeed；　to　suit　either　Bertram　or　Calderwell。　　Even　William　frowned
sometimes　when　his　cozy　chats　with　Billy　were　interrupted　by
Cyril's　appearing　with　a　roll　of　new　music　for　her　to　〃try〃；　though
William　told　himself　that　he　ought　to　be　thankful　if　there　was
anything　that　could　make　Cyril　more　companionable；　less　reserved
and　morose。　　And　Cyril　WAS　differentthere　was　no　disputing　that。
Calderwell　said　that　he　had　come　〃out　of　his　shell〃；　and　Bertram
told　Billy　that　she　must　have　〃found　his　note　and　struck　it　good
and　hard。〃

Billy　was　very　happy。　　To　the　little　music　teacher；　Marie　Hawthorn；
she　talked　more　freely；　perhaps；　than　she　did　to　any　one　else。

〃It's　so　wonderful；　Marieso　wonderfully　wonderful；〃　she　said　one
day；　〃to　sit　here　in　my　own　room　and　sing　a　little　song　that　comes
from　somewhere；　anywhere；　out　of　the　sky　itself。　　Then　by　and　by；
that　little　song　will　fly　away；　away；　over　land　and　sea；　and　some
day　it　will　touch　somebody's　heart　just　as　it　has　touched　mine。
Oh；　Marie；　is　it　not　wonderful？〃

〃It　is；　dearand　it　is　not。　　Your　songs　could　not　help　reaching
somebody's　heart。　　There's　nothing　wonderful　in　that。〃

〃Sweet　flatterer！〃

〃But　I　mean　it。　　They　are　beautiful；　and　so　isMr。　Henshaw's
music。〃

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　murmured　Billy；　abstractedly。

There　was　a　long　pause；　then　Marie　asked　with　shy　hesitation：

〃Do　you　think；　Miss　Billythat　he　would　care？　　I　listened
yesterday　when　he　was　playing　to　you。　　I　was　up　here　in　your　room；
but　when　I　heard　the　music　II　went　out；　on　the　stairs　and　sat
down。　　Was　it　verybad　of　me？〃

Billy　laughed　happily。

〃If　it　was；　he　can't　say　anything；〃　she　reassured　her。　　〃He's　done
the　same　thing　himselfand　so　have　I。〃

〃HE　has　done　it！〃

〃Yes。　　It　was　at　his　home　last　Thanksgiving。　　It　was　then　that　he
found　outabout　my　improvising。〃

〃Oh…h！〃　　Marie's　eyes　were　wistful。　　〃And　he　cares　so　much　now　for
your　music！〃

〃Does　he？　　Do　you　think　he　does？〃　demanded　Billy。

〃I　know　he　doesand　for　the　one　who　makes　it；　too。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　laughed　Billy；　with　pinker　cheeks。　　〃It's　the　music；
not　the　musician；　that　pleases　him。　　Mr。　Cyril　doesn't　like　women。〃

〃He　doesn't　like　women！〃

〃No。　　But　don't　look　so　shocked；　my　dear。　　Every　one　who　knows　Mr。
Cyril　knows　that。〃

〃But　I　don't　thinkI　believe　it；〃　demurred　Marie；　gazing　straight
into　Billy's　eyes。　　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　believe　it。〃

Under　the　little　music　teacher's　steady　gaze　Billy　flushed　again。
The　laugh　she　gave　was　an　embarrassed　one；　but　through　it　vibrated
a　pleased　ring。

〃Nonsense！〃　she　exclaimed；　springing　to　her　feet　and　moving
restlessly　about　the　room。　　With　the　next　breath　she　had　changed
the　subject　to　one　far　removed　from　Mr。　Cyril　and　his　likes　and
dislikes。

Some　time　later　Billy　played；　and　it　was　then　that　Marie　drew　a
long　sigh。

〃How　beautiful　it　must　be　to　playlike　that；〃　she　breathed。

〃As　if　you；　a　music　teacher；　could　not　play！〃　laughed　Billy。

〃Not　like　that；　dear。　　You　know　it　is　not　like　that。〃

Billy　frowned。

〃But　you　are　so　accurate；　Marie；　and　you　can　read　at　sight　so
rapidly！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　like　a　little　machine；　I　know！〃　scorned　the　usually
gentle　Marie；　bitterly。　　〃Don't　they　have　a　thing　of　metal　that
adds　figures　like　magic？　　Well；　I'm　like　that。　　I　see　g　and　I　play
g；　I　see　d　and　I　play　d；　I　see　f　and　I　play　f；　and　after　I've　seen
enough　g's　and　d's　and　f's　and　played　them　all；　the　thing　is　done。
I've　played。〃

〃Why；　Marie！　　Marie；　my　dear！〃　　The　second　exclamation　was　very
tender；　for　Marie　was　crying。

〃There！　　I　knew　I　should　some　day　have　it　outall　out；〃　sobbed
Marie。　　〃I　felt　it　coming。〃

〃Then　perhaps　you'llyou'll　feel　better　now；〃　stammered　Billy。
She　tried　to　say　moreother　words　that　would　have　been　a　real
comfort；　but　her　tongue　refused　to　speak　them。　　She　knew　so　well；
so　woefully　well；　how　very　wooden　and　mechanical　the　little　music
teacher's　playing　always　had　been。　　But　that　Marie　should　realize
it　herself　like　thisthe　tragedy　of　it　made　Billy's　heart　ache。
At　Marie's　next　words；　however；　Billy　caught　her　breath　in
surprise。

〃But　you　see　it　wasn't　musicit　wasn't　ever　music　that　I　wanted
to　do；〃　she　confessed。

〃It　wasn't　music！　　But　whatI　don't　understand；〃　murmured　Billy。

〃No；　I　suppose　not；〃　sighed　the　other。　　〃You　play　so　beautifully
yourself。〃

〃But　I　thought　you　loved　music。〃

〃I　do。　　I　love　it　dearlyin　others。　　But　I　can'tI　don't　want　to
make　it　myself。〃

〃But　what　do　you　want　to　do？〃

Marie　laughed　suddenly。

〃Do　you　know；　my　dear；　I　have　half　a　mind　to　tell　you　what　I　do
like　to　dojust