miss billy-第24章

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〃Then　you　haveseen　ittoo？〃　he　stammered

〃'Seen　it；　too；'〃　laughed　Kate；　with　her　confident　eyes　on
William's　flushed　face；　〃I　should　say　I　had　seen　it！　　Any　one　could
see　it。〃

William　blushed　again。　　Love　to　him　had　always　been　something
sacred；　something　that　called　for　hushed　voices　and　twilight。
This　merry　discussion　in　the　sunlight　of　even　another's　love　was
disconcerting。

〃Now　come；　William；〃　resumed　Kate；　after　a　moment；　〃speak　to　Billy；
and　have　the　matter　settled　once　for　all。　　It's　worrying　you。　　I
can　see　it　is。〃

Again　William　stirred　uneasily。

〃But；　Kate；　I　can't　do　anything。　　I　told　you　before；　I　don't
believe　Billy　isready。〃

〃Nonsense！　　Ask　her。〃

〃But　Kate；　a　girl　won't　marry　against　her　will！〃

〃I　don't　believe　it　is　against　her　will。〃

〃Kate！　　Honestly？〃

〃Honestly！　　I've　watched　her。〃

〃Then　I　WILL　speak；〃　cried　the　man；　his　face　alight；　〃ifif　you
think　anything　I　can　say　wouldhelp。　　There　is　nothingnothing　in
all　this　world　that　I　so　desire；　Kate；　as　to　have　that　little　girl
back　home。　　And　of　course　that　would　do　it。　　She'd　live　there；　you
know。〃

〃Why；　ofcourse；〃　murmured　Kate；　with　a　puzzled　frown。　　There　was
something　in　this　last　remark　of　William's　that　she　did　not　quite
understand。　　Surely　he　could　not　suppose　that　she　had　any　idea　that
after　he　had　married　Billy　they　would　go　to　live　anywhere　else；
she　thought。　　For　a　moment　she　considered　the　matter　vaguely；　then
she　turned　her　attention　to　something　else。　　She　was　the　more　ready
to　do　this　because　she　believed　that　she　had　said　enough　for　the
present：　it　was　well　to　sow　seeds；　but　it　was　also　well　to　let　them
have　a　chance　to　grow；　she　told　herself。

Mrs。　Hartwell's　next　move　was　to　speak　to　Billy；　and　she　was
careful　to　do　this　at　once；　so　that　she　might　pave　the　way　for
William。

She　began　her　conversation　with　an　ingratiating　smile　and　the
words：

〃Well；　Billy；　I've　been　doing　a　little　detective　work　on　my　own
account。〃

〃Detective　work？〃

〃Yes；　about　William。　　You　know　I　told　you　the　other　day　how
troubled　and　anxious　he　looked　to　me。　　Well；　I've　found　out　what's
the　matter。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃Yourself。〃

〃Myself！　　Why；　Mrs。　Hartwell；　what　can　you　mean？〃

The　elder　lady　smiled　significantly。

〃Oh；　it's　merely　another　case；　my　dear；　of　'faint　heart　never　won
fair　lady。'　　I've　been　helping　on　the　faint　heart；　that's　all。〃

〃But　I　don't　understand。〃

〃No？　　I　can't　believe　you　quite　mean　that；　my　dear。　　Surely　you
must　know　how　earnestly　my　brother　William　is　longing　for　you　to　go
back　and　live　with　him。〃

Like　William；　Billy　flushed　scarlet。

〃Mrs。　Hartwell；　certainly　no　one　could　know　better　than　YOURSELF
why　that　is　quite　impossible；〃　she　frowned。

The　other　colored　confusedly。

〃I　understand；　of　course；　what　you　mean。　　And；　Billy；　I'll　confess
that　I've　been　sorry　lots　of　times；　since；　that　I　spoke　as　I　did　to
you；　particularly　when　I　saw　how　it　grieved　my　brother　William　to
have　you　go　away。　　If　I　blundered　then；　I'm　sorry；　and　perhaps　I
did　blunder。　　At　all　events；　that　is　only　the　more　reason　now　why　I
am　so　anxious　to　do　what　I　can　to　rectify　that　old　mistake；　and
plead　William's　suit。〃

To　Mrs。　Hartwell's　blank　amazement；　Billy　laughed　outright。

〃'William's　suit'！〃　she　quoted　merrily。　　〃Why；　Mrs。　Hartwell；　there
isn't　any　'suit'　to　it。　　Uncle　William　doesn't　want　me　to　marry
him！〃

〃Indeed　he　does。〃

Billy　stopped　laughing；　and　sat　suddenly　erect。

〃MRS。　HARTWELL！〃

〃Billy；　is　it　possible　that　you　did　not　know　this？〃

〃Indeed　I　don't　know　it；　andexcuse　me；　but　I　don't　think　you　do；
either。〃

〃But　I　do。　　I've　talked　with　him；　and　he's　very　much　in　earnest；〃
urged　Mrs。　Hartwell；　speaking　very　rapidly。　　〃He　says　there's
nothing　in　all　the　world　that　he　so　desires。　　And；　Billy；　you　do
care　for　himI　know　you　do！〃

〃Why；　of　course　I　care　for　himbut　notthat　way。〃

〃But；　Billy；　think！〃　　Mrs。　Hartwell　was　very　earnest　now；　and　a
little　frightened。　　She　felt　that　she　must　bring　Billy　to　terms　in
some　way　now　that　William　had　been　encouraged　to　put　his　fate　to
the　test。　　〃Just　remember　how　good　William　has　always　been　to　you；
and　think　what　you　have　been；　and　may　BEif　you　only　willin　his
lonely　life。　　Think　of　his　great　sorrow　years　ago。　　Think　of　this
dreary　waste　of　years　between。　　Think　how　now　his　heart　has　turned
to　you　for　love　and　comfort　and　rest。　　Billy；　you　can't　turn　away！
you　can't　find　it　in　your　heart　to　turn　away　from　that　dear；　good
man　who　loves　you　so！〃　　Mrs。　Hartwell's　voice　shook　effectively；
and　even　her　eyes　looked　through　tears。　　Mentally　she　was
congratulating　herself：　she　had　not　supposed　she　could　make　so
touching　an　appeal。

In　the　chair　opposite　the　girl　sat　very　still。　　She　was　pale；　and
her　eyes　showed　a　frightened　questioning　in　their　depths。　　For　a
long　minute　she　said　nothing；　then　she　rose　dazedly　to　her　feet。

〃Mrs。　Hartwell；　please　do　not　speak　of　this　to　any　one；〃　she　begged
in　a　low　voice。　　〃II　am　taken　quite　by　surprise。　　I　shall　have　to
think　it　outalone。〃

Billy　did　not　sleep　well　that　night。　　Always　before　her　eyes　was
the　vision　of　William's　face；　and　always　in　her　ears　was　the　echo
of　Mrs。　Hartwell's　words：　　〃Remember　how　good　William　has　always
been　to　you。　　Think　of　his　great　sorrow　years　ago。　　Think　of　this
dreary　waste　of　years　between。　　Think　how　now　his　heart　has　turned
to　you　for　love　and　comfort　and　rest。〃

For　a　time　Billy　tossed　about　on　her　bed　trying　to　close　her　eyes
to　the　vision　and　her　ears　to　the　echo。　　Then；　finding　that　neither
was　possible；　she　set　herself　earnestly　to　thinking　the　matter　out。

William　loved　her。　　Extraordinary　as　it　seemed；　such　was　the　fact；
Mrs。　Hartwell　said　so。　　And　nowwhat　must　she　do；　what　could　she
do？　　She　loved　no　oneof　that　she　was　very　sure。　　She　was　even
beginning　to　think　that　she　would　never　love　any　one。　　There　were
Calderwell；　Cyril；　Bertram；　to　say　nothing　of　sundry　others；　who
had　loved　her；　apparently；　but　whom　she　could　not　love。　　Such　being
the　case；　if　she　were；　indeed；　incapable　of　love　herself；　why
should　she　not　make　the　sacrifice　of　giving　up　her　career；　her
independence；　and　in　that　way　bring　this　great　joy　to　Uncle
William's　heart？　。　。　。　　Even　as　she　said　the　〃Uncle　William〃　to
herself；　Billy　bit　her　lip　and　realized　that　she　must　no　longer　say
〃Uncle〃　Williamif　she　married　him。

〃If　she　married　him。〃　　The　words　startled　her。　　〃If　she　married
him。〃　。　。　。　　Well；　what　of　it？　　She　would　go　to　live　at　the　Strata；
of　course；　and　there　would　be　Cyril　and　Bertram。　　It　might　be
awkward；　and　yetshe　did　not　believe　Cyril　was　in　love　with
anything　but　his　music；　and　as　to　Bertramit　was　the　same　with
Bertram　and　his　painting；　and　he　would　soon　forget　that　he　had　ever
fancied　he　loved　her。　　After　that　he　would　be　simply　a　congenial
friend　and　companiona　good　comrade。　　As　Billy　thought　of　it；
indeed；　one　of　the　pleasantest　features　of　this　marriage　with
William　would　be　the　delightful　comradeship　of　her　〃brother；〃
Bertram。

Billy　dwelt　then　at　some　length　on　William's　love　for　her；　his
longing　for　her　presence；　and　his　dreary　years　of　loneliness。　。　。　。
And　he　was　so　good　to　her；　she　recollected；　he　had　always　been　good
to　her。　　He　was　older；　to　be　suremuch　older　than　she；　but；　after
all；　it　would　not　be　so　difficult；　so　very　difficult；　to　learn　to
love　him。　　At　all　events；　whatever　happened；　she　would　have　the
supreme　satisfaction　of　knowing　that　at　least　she　had　brought　into
dear　Unclethat　is；　into　William's　life　the　great　peace　and　joy
that　only　she　could　give。

It　was　almost　dawn　when　Billy　arrived　at　this　not　uncheerful　state
of　prospective　martyrdom。　　She　turned　over　then　with　a　sigh；　and
settled　herself　to　sleep。　　She　was　relieved　that　she　had　decided
the　question。　　She　was　glad　that　she　knew　just　what　to　say　when
William　should　speak。　　He　was　a　dear；　dear　man；　and　she　would　not
make　it　hard　for　him；　she　promised　herself。　　She　would　be　William's
wife。



CHAPTER　XXXVI

WILLIAM　MEETS　WITH　A　SURPRISE


In　spite　of　his　sister's　confident　assurance　that　the　time　was　ripe
for　him　to　speak　to　Billy；　William　delayed　some　days　before
broaching　the　matter　to　her。　　His　courage　was　not　so　good　as　it　had
been　when　he　was　talking　with　Kate。　　It　seemed　now；　as　it　always
had；　a　fearsome　thing　to　try　to　hasten　on　this　love　affair　between
Billy　and　Bertram。　　He　could　not　see；　in　spite　of　Kate's　words；
that　Billy　showed　unmistakable　evidence　at　all　of　being　in　love
with　his　brother。　　The　more　he　thought　of　it；　in　fact；　the　more　he
dreaded　the　carrying　out　of　his　promise　to　speak　to　his　namesake。

What　should　he　say；　he　asked　himself。　　How　could　he　word　it？　　He
could　not　very　well　accost　her　with：　　〃Oh；　Billy；　I　wish　you'd
please　hurry　up　and　marry　Bertram；　because　then　you'd　come　and　live
with　me。〃　　Neither　could　he　plead　Bertram's　cause　directly。　　Quite
probably　Bertram　would　prefer　to　plead　his　own。　　Then；　too；　if
Billy　really　was　not　in　love　with　Bertramwhat　then？　　Might　not
his　own　untimely　haste　in　the　matter　forever　put　an　end　to　the
chance　of　her　caring　for　him？

It　was；　indeed；　a　delicate　matter；　and　as　William　pondered　it　he
wished　himself　well　out　of　it；　and　that　Kate　had　not　spoken。　　But
even　as　he　formed　the　wish；　William　remembered　with　a　thrill　Kate's
positive　assertion　that　a　word　from　him　would　do　wonders；　and　that
now　was　the　time　to　utter　it。　　He　decided　then　that　he　would　speak；
that　he　must　speak；　but　that　at　the　same　time　he　would　proceed　with
a　caution　that　would　permit　a　hasty　retreat　if　he　saw　that　his
words　were　not　having　the　desired　effect。　　He　would　begin　with　a
frank　confession　of　his　grief　at　her　leaving　him；　and　of　his
longing　for　her　return；　then　very　gradually；　if　wisdom　counseled
it；　he　would　go　on　to　speak　of　Bertram's　love　for　her；　and　of　his
own　hope　that　she　would　make　Bertram　and　all　the　Strata　glad　by
loving　him　in　return。

Mrs。　Hartwell　had　returned　to　her　Western　home　before　William　found
just　the　opportunity　for　his　talk　with　Billy。　　True　to　his　belief
that　only　hushed　voices　and　twilight　were　fitting　for　such　a
subject；　he　waited　until　he　found　the　girl　early　one　evening　alone
on　her　vine…shaded　veranda。　　He　noticed　that　as　he　seated　himself
at　her　side　she　flushed　a　little　and　half　started　to　rise；　with　a
nervous　fluttering　of　her　hands；　and　a　murmured　〃I'll　call　Aunt
Hannah。〃　　It　was　then　that　with　sudden　courage；　he　resolved　to
speak。

〃Billy；　don't　go；〃　he　said　gently；　with　a　touch　of　his　hand　on　her
arm。　　〃There　is　something　I　want　to　say　to　you。　　II　have　wanted
to　say　it　for　some　time。〃

〃Why；　ofof　course；〃　stammered　the　girl；　falling　back　in　her　seat。
And　again　William　noticed　that　odd　fluttering　of　the　slim　little
hands。

For　a　time　no　one　spoke；　then　William　began　softly；　his　eyes　on　the
distant　sky…line　still　faintly　aglow　with　the　sunset's　reflection。

〃Billy；　I　want　to　tell　you　a　story。　　Long　years　ago　there　was　a　man
who　had　a　happy　home　with　a　young　wife　and　a　tiny　baby　boy　in　it。
I　could　not　begin　to　tell　you　all　the　plans　that　man　made　for　that
baby　boy。　　Such　a　great　and　good　and　wonderful　being　that　tiny　baby
was　one　day　to　become。　　But　the　babywent　away；　after　a　ti