miss billy-第23章

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so　much　he　can't　take　any　vacation；　and　they　wouldn't　have　any
money　to　go　anywhere　if　he　could。　　Well；　I'm　going　to　have　them　a
week。　　She'll　be　here　all　the　time；　and　he'll　come　out　at　night；　of
course。

〃Another　one　is　a　widow　with　six　children。　　The　children　are
already　provided　for　by　a　fresh…air　society；　but　the　woman　I'm
going　to　take；　andand　give　her　a　whole　week　of　food　that　she
didn't　have　to　cook　herself。　　Another　one　is　a　woman　who　is　not　so
very　poor；　but　who　has　lost　her　baby；　and　is　blue　and　discouraged。
There　are　some　children；　too；　one　crippled；　and　a　boy　who　says　he's
'just　lonesome。'　　And　there　arereally；　Bertram；　there　is　no　end
to　them。〃

〃I　can　well　believe　that；〃　declared　Bertram；　with　emphasis；　〃so　far
as　your　generous　heart　is　concerned。〃

Billy　colored　and　looked　distressed。

〃But　it　isn't　generosity　or　charity　at　all；　Bertram；〃　she　protested。
〃You　are　mistaken　when　you　think　it　isreally！　　Why；　I　shall　enjoy
every　bit　of　it　just　as　well　as　they　doand　better；　perhaps。〃

〃But　you　stay　herein　the　cityall　summer　for　their　sakes。〃

〃What　if　I　do？　　Besides；　this　isn't　the　real　city；〃　argued　Billy；
〃with　all　these　trees　and　lawns　about　one。　　And　another　thing；〃　she
added；　leaning　forward　confidentially；　〃I　might　as　well　confess；
Bertram；　you　couldn't　hire　me　to　leave　the　place　this　summernot
while　all　these　things　I　planted　are　coming　up！〃

Bertram　laughed；　but　for　some　reason　he　looked　wonderfully　happy　as
he　turned　away。

On　the　fifteenth　of　June　Kate　and　her　husband　arrived　from　the
West。　　A　young　brother　of　Mr。　Hartwell's　was　to　be　graduated　from
Harvard；　and　Kate　said　they　had　come　on　to　represent　the　family；　as
the　elder　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hartwell　were　not　strong　enough　to　undertake
the　journey。　　Kate　was　looking　well　and　happy。　　She　greeted　Billy
with　effusive　cordiality；　and　openly　expressed　her　admiration　of
Hillside。　　She　looked　very　keenly　into　her　brothers'　face；　and
seemed　well　pleased　with　the　appearance　of　Cyril　and　Bertram；　but
not　so　much　so　with　William's　countenance。

〃William　does　NOT　look　well；〃　she　declared　one　day　when　she　and
Billy　were　alone　together。

〃Sick？　　Uncle　William　sick？　　Oh；　I　hope　not！〃　cried　the　girl。

〃I　don't　know　whether　it's　'sick'　or　not；〃　returned　Mrs。　Hartwell。
〃But　it's　something。　　He's　troubled。　　I'm　going　to　speak　to　him。
He's　worried　over　something；　and　he's　grown　terribly　thin。〃

〃But　he's　always　thin；〃　reasoned　Billy。

〃I　know；　but　not　like　thisever。　　You　don't　notice　it；　perhaps；　or
realize　it；　seeing　him　every　day　as　you　do。　　But　I　know　something
troubles　him。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　not；〃　murmured　Billy；　with　anxious　eyes。　　〃We　don't
want　Uncle　William　troubled：　we　all　love　him　too　well。〃

Mrs。　Hartwell　did　not　at　once　reply；　but　for　a　long　minute　she
thoughtfully　studied　Billy's　face　as　it　was　bent　above　the　sewing
in　Billy's　hand。　　When　she　did　speak　she　had　changed　the　subject。

Young　Hartwell　was　to　deliver　the　Ivy　Oration　in　the　Stadium　on
Class　Day；　and　all　the　Henshaws　were　looking　eagerly　forward　to　the
occasion。

〃You　have　seen　the　Stadium；　of　course；〃　said　Bertram　to　Billy；　a
few　days　before　the　anticipated　Friday。

〃Only　from　across　the　river。〃

〃Is　that　so？　　And　you've　never　been　here　Class　Day；　either。　　Good！
Then　you've　got　a　treat　in　store。　　Just　wait　and　see！〃

And　Billy　waitedand　she　saw。　　Billy　began　to　see；　in　fact；　before
Class　Day。　　Young　Hartwell　was　a　popular　fellow；　and　he　was　eager
to　have　his　friends　meet　Billy　and　the　Henshaws。　　He　was　a　member
of　the　Institute　of　1770；　D。　K。　E。；　Stylus；　Signet；　Round　Table；
and　Hasty　Pudding　Clubs；　and　nearly　every　one　of　these　had　some
sort　of　function　planned　for　Class…Day　week。　　By　the　time　the　day
itself　arrived　Billy　was　almost　as　excited　as　was　young　Hartwell
himself。

It　rained　Class…Day　morning；　but　at　nine　o'clock　the　sun　came　out
and　drove　the　clouds　away；　much　to　every　one's　delight。　　Billy's
day　began　at　noon　with　the　spread　given　by　the　Hasty　Pudding　Club。
Billy　wondered　afterward　how　many　times　that　day　remarks　like　these
were　made　to　her：

〃You've　been　here　Class　Day　before；　of　course。　　You've　seen　the
confetti…throwing！　。　。　。　　No？　　Well；　you　just　wait！〃

At　ten　minutes　of　four　Billy　and　Mrs。　Hartwell；　with　Mr。　Hartwell
and　Bertram　as　escorts；　entered　the　cool；　echoing　shadows　under　the
Stadium；　and　then　out　in　the　sunlight　they　began　to　climb　the　broad
steps　to　their　seats。

〃I　wanted　them　high　up；　you　see；〃　explained　Bertram；　〃because　you
can　get　the　effect　so　much　better。　　There；　here　we　are！〃

For　the　first　time　Billy　turned　and　looked　about　her。　　She　gave　a
low　cry　of　delight。

〃Oh；　oh；　how　beautifulhow　wonderfully　beautiful！〃

〃You　just　wait！〃　crowed　Bertram。　　〃If　you　think　this　is　beautiful；
you　just　wait！〃

Billy　did　not　seem　to　hear　him。　　Her　eyes　were　sweeping　the
wonderful　scene　before　her；　and　her　face　was　aglow　with　delight。

First　there　was　the　great　amphitheater　itself。　　Only　the　wide　curve
of　the　horseshoe　was　roped　off　for　to…day's　audience。　　Beyond　lay
the　two　sides　with　their　tier　above　tier　of　empty　seats；　almost
dazzling　in　the　sunshine。　　Within　the　roped…off　curve　the　scene　was
of　kaleidoscopic　beauty。　　Charmingly　gowned　young　women　and
carefully　groomed　young　men　were　everywhere；　stirring；　chatting；
laughing。　　Gay…colored　parasols　and　flower…garden　hats　made　here
and　there　brilliant　splashes　of　rainbow　tints。　　Above　was　an　almost
cloudless　canopy　of　blue；　and　at　the　far　horizon；　earth　and　sky　met
and　made　a　picture　that　was　like　a　wondrous　painted　curtain　hung
from　heaven　itself。

At　the　first　sound　of　the　distant　band　that　told　of　the　graduates'
coming；　Bertram　said　almost　wistfully：

〃Class　Day　is　the　only　time　when　I　feel　'out　of　it。'　　You　see　I'm
the　first　male　Henshaw　for　ages　that　hasn't　been　through　Harvard；
and　to…day；　you　know；　is　the　time　when　the　old　grads　come　back　and
do　stunts　like　the　kidsif　they　can　（and　some　of　them　can　all
right！）。　　They　march　in　by　classes　ahead　of　the　seniors；　and　vie
with　each　other　in　giving　their　yells。　　You'll　see　Cyril　and
William；　if　your　eyes　are　sharp　enoughand　you'll　see　them　as　you
never　saw　them　before。〃

Far　down　the　green　field　Billy　spied　now　the　long　black　line　of
moving　figures　with　a　band　in　the　lead。　　Nearer　and　nearer　it　came
until；　greeted　by　a　mighty　roar　from　thousands　of　throats；　the
leaders　swept　into　the　great　bowl　of　the　horseshoe　curve。

And　how　they　yelled　and　cheeredthose　men　whose　first　Class　Day
lay　five；　ten；　fifteen；　even　twenty　or　more　years　behind　them；　as
told　by　the　banners　which　they　so　proudly　carried。　　How　they　got
their　heads　together　and　gave　the　〃Rah！　Rah！　Rah！〃　with　unswerving
eyes　on　their　leader！　　How　they　beat　the　air　with　their　hats　in
time　to　their　lusty　shouts！　　And　how　the　throngs　above　cheered　and
clapped　in　answer；　until　they　almost　split　their　throatsand　did
split　their　glovesespecially　when　the　black…gowned　seniors　swept
into　view。

And　when　the　curving　line　of　black　had　become　one　solid　mass　of
humanity　that　filled　the　bowl　from　side　to　side；　the　vast　throng
seated　themselves；　and　a　great　hush　fell　while　the　Glee　Club　sang。

Young　Hartwell　proved　to　be　a　good　speaker；　and　his　ringing　voice
reached　even　the　topmost　tier　of　seats。　　Billy　was　charmed　and
interested。　　Everything　she　saw　and　heard　was　but　a　new　source　of
enjoyment；　and　she　had　quite　forgotten　the　thing　for　which　she　was
to　〃wait；〃　when　she　saw　the　ushers　passing　through　the　aisles　with
their　baskets　of　many…hued　packages　of　confetti　and　countless　rolls
of　paper　ribbon。

It　began　then；　the　merry　war　between　the　students　below　and　the
throng　above。　　In　a　trice　the　air　was　filled　with　shimmering　bits
of　red；　blue；　white；　green；　purple；　pink；　and　yellow。　　From　all
directions　fluttering　streamers　that　showed　every　color　of　the
rainbow；　were　flung　to　the　breeze　until；　upheld　by　the　supporting
wires；　they　made　a　fairy　lace　work　of　marvelous　beauty。

〃Oh；　oh；　oh！〃　cried　Billy；　her　eyes　misty　with　emotion。　　〃I　think　I
never　saw　anything　in　my　life　so　lovely！

〃I　thought　you'd　like　it；〃　gloried　Bertram。　　〃You　know　I　said　to
wait！〃

But　even　with　this；　Class　Day　for　Billy　was　not　finished。　　There
was　still　Hartwell's　own　spread　from　six　to　eight；　and　after　that
there　were　the　President's　reception；　and　dancing　in　the　Memorial
Hall　and　in　the　Gymnasium。　　There　was　the　Fairyland　of　the　yard；
too；　softly　aglow　with　moving　throngs　of　beautiful　women　and
gallant　men。　　But　what　Billy　remembered　best　of　all　was　the
exquisite　harmony　that　came　to　her　through　the　hushed　night　air
when　the　Glee　Club　sang　Fair　Harvard　on　the　steps　of　Holworthy
Hall。



CHAPTER　XXXV

SISTER　KATE　AGAIN


It　was　on　the　Sunday　following　Class　Day　that　Mrs。　Hartwell　carried
out　her　determination　to　〃speak　to　William。〃　　The　West　had　not
taken　from　Kate　her　love　of　managing；　and　she　thought　she　saw　now　a
matter　that　sorely　needed　her　guiding　hand。

William's　thin　face；　anxious　looks；　and　nervous　manner　had　troubled
her　ever　since　she　came。　　Then　one　day；　very　suddenly；　had　come
enlightenment：　William　was　in　loveand　with　Billy。

Mrs。　Hartwell　watched　William　very　closely　after　that。　　She　saw　his
eyes　follow　Billy　fondly；　yet　anxiously。　　She　saw　his　open　joy　at
being　with　her；　and　at　any　little　attention；　word；　or　look　that　the
girl　gave　him。　　She　remembered；　too；　something　that　Bertram　had
said　about　William's　grief　because　Billy　would　not　live　at　the
Strata。　　She　thought　she　saw　something　else；　also：　that　Billy　was
fond　of　William；　but　that　William　did　not　know　it；　hence　his
frequent　troubled　scrutiny　of　her　face。　　Why　these　two　should　play
at　cross　purposes　Sister　Kate　could　not　understand。　　She　smiled；
however；　confidently：　they　should　not　play　at　cross　purposes　much
longer；　she　declared。

On　Sunday　afternoon　Kate　asked　her　eldest　brother　to　take　her
driving。

〃Not　a　motor　car；　I　want　a　horsethat　will　let　me　talk；〃　she　said。

〃Certainly；〃　agreed　William；　with　a　smile；　but　Bertram；　who　chanced
to　hear　her；　put　in　the　sly　comment：　　〃As　if　ANY　horse　could
preventthat！〃

On　the　drive　Kate　began　to　talk　at　once；　but　she　did　not　plunge
into　the　subject　nearest　her　heart　until　she　had　adroitly　led
William　into　a　glowing　enumeration　of　Billy's　many　charming
characteristics；　then　she　said：

〃William；　why　don't　you　take　Billy　home　with　you？〃

William　stirred　uneasily　as　he　always　did　when　anything　annoyed
him。

〃My　dear　Kate；　there　is　nothing　I　should　like　better　to　do；〃　he
replied。

〃Then　why　don't　you　do　it？〃

〃Ihope　to；　sometime。〃

〃But　why　not　now？〃

〃I'm　afraid　Billy　is　not　quiteready。〃

〃Nonsense！　　A　young　girl　like　that　does　not　know　her　own　mind　lots
of　times。　　Just　press　the　matter　a　little。　　Love　will　work　wonders
sometimes。〃

William　blushed　like　a　girl。　　To　him　her　words　had　but　one　meaning
Bertram's　love　for　Billy。　　William　had　never　spoken　of　this
suspected　love　affair　to　any　one。　　He　had　even　thought　that　he　was
the　only　one　that　had　discovered　it。　　To　hear　his　sister　refer　thus
lightly　to　it　came　therefore　in　the　nature　of　a　shock　to　him。

〃Then　you　haveseen　ittoo？〃　he　stammered

〃'Seen　it；　too；'〃　laughed　Kate；　with　her　co