miss billy-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


William；　hurriedly。　　〃And　I　shall　have　to　plunge　straight　into　the
matter；　too；　for　there　isn't　time　to　preamble。　　I've　taken　an
eighteen…year…old　girl　to　bring　up；　Aunt　Hannah；　and　I　want　you　to
come　down　and　live　with　us　to　chaperon　her。〃

〃My　grief　and　conscience；　WILLIAM！〃　gasped　the　little　woman；
agitatedly。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；　Aunt　Hannah；　everything　you　would　say　if　you
could。　　But　please　skip　the　hysterics。　　We've　all　had　them；　and
Kate　has　already　used　every　possible　adjective　that　you　could　think
up。　　Now　it's　just　this。〃　　And　he　hurriedly　gave　Mrs。　Stetson　a
full　account　of　the　case；　and　told　her　plainly　what　he　hoped　and
expected　that　she　would　do　for　him。

〃Why；　yes；　of　courseI'll　come；〃　acquiesced　the　lady；　a　little
breathlessly；　〃ifif　you　are　sure　you're　going　tokeep　her。〃

〃Good！　　And　remember　I　said　'now；'　pleasethat　I　wanted　you　to
come　right　away；　to…day。　　Of　course　Kate　can't　stay。　　Just　get　in
half　a　dozen　women　to　help　you　pack；　and　come。〃

〃Half　a　dozen　women　in　that　little　room；　Williamimpossible！〃

〃Well；　I　only　meant　to　get　enough　so　you　could　come　right　off　this
morning。〃

〃But　I　don't　need　them；　William。　　There　are　only　my　clothes　and
books；　and　such　things。　　You　know　it　is　a　FURNISHED　room。〃

〃All　right；　all　right；　Aunt　Hannah。　　I　wanted　to　make　sure　you
hurried；　that's　all。　　You　see；　I　don't　want　Billy　to　suspect　just
how　much　she's　upsetting　us。　　I've　asked　Kate　to　take　her　over　to
her　house　for　the　day；　while　Bertram　is　moving　down…stairs；　and
while　we're　getting　you　settled。　　II　think　you'll　like　it　there；
Aunt　Hannah；〃　added　William；　anxiously。　　〃Of　course　Billy's　got
Spunk；　but〃　he　hesitated；　and　smiled　a　little。

〃Got　what？〃　faltered　the　other。

〃Spunk。　　Oh；　I　don't　mean　THAT　kind；〃　laughed　William；　in　answer　to
the　dismayed　expression　on　his　aunt's　face。　　〃Spunk　is　a　cat。〃

〃A　cat！but　such　a　name；　William！　　II　think　we'll　change　that。〃

〃Eh？　　Oh；　you　do；〃　murmured　William；　with　a　curious　smile。　　〃Very
well；　be　that　as　it　may。　　Anyhow；　you're　coming；　and　we　shall　want
you　all　settled　by　dinner　time；〃　he　finished；　as　he　picked　up　his
hat　to　go。

With　Kate；　Billy　spent　the　long　day　very　contentedly　in　Kate's
beautiful　Commonwealth　Avenue　home。　　The　two　boys；　Paul；　twelve
years　old；　and　Egbert；　eight；　were　a　little　shy；　it　is　true；　and
not　really　of　much　use　as　companions；　but　there　was　a　little　Kate；
four　years　old；　who　proved　to　be　wonderfully　entertaining。

Billy　was　not　much　used　to　children；　and　she　found　this　four…year…
old　atom　of　humanity　to　be　a　great　source　of　interest　and
amusement。　　She　even　told　Mrs。　Hartwell　at　parting　that　little　Kate
was　almost　as　nice　as　Spunkwhich　remark；　oddly　enough；　did　not
appear　to　please　Mrs。　Hartwell　to　the　extent　that　Billy　thought
that　it　would。

At　the　Beacon　Street　house　Billy　was　presented　at　once　to　Mrs。
Stetson。

〃And　you　are　to　call　me　'Aunt　Hannah；'　my　dear；〃　said　the　little
woman；　graciously；　〃just　as　the　boys　do。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　dimpled　Billy；　〃and　you　don't　know；　Aunt　Hannah；　how
good　it　seems　to　me　to　come　into　so　many　relatives；　all　at　once！〃

Upon　going　up…stairs　Billy　found　her　room　somewhat　changed。　　It　was
far　less　warlike；　and　the　case　of　spiders　had　been　taken　away。

〃And　this　will　be　your　stratum；　you　know；〃　announced　Bertram　from
the　stairway；　〃yours　and　Aunt　Hannah's。　　You're　to　have　this　whole
floor。　　Will　and　Cyril　are　above；　and　I'm　down…stairs。〃

〃You　are？　　Why；　I　thought　youwerehere。〃　　Billy's　face　was
puzzled。

〃Here？　　Oh；　well；　I　did　havesome　things　here；〃　he　retorted
airily；　〃but　I　took　them　all　away　to…day。　　You　see；　my　stratum　is
down…stairs；　and　it　doesn't　do　to　mix　the　layers。　　By　the　way；　you
haven't　been　up…stairs　yet；　have　you？　　Come　on；　and　I'll　show　you
and　you；　too；　Aunt　Hannah。〃

Billy　clapped　her　hands；　but　Aunt　Hannah　shook　her　head。

〃I'll　leave　that　for　younger　feet　than　mine；〃　she　said；　adding
whimsically：　　〃It's　best　sometimes　that　one　doesn't　try　to　step　too
far　off　one's　own　level；　you　know。〃

〃All　right；〃　laughed　the　man。　　〃Come　on；　Miss　Billy。〃

On　the　door　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　he　tapped　twice；　lightly。

〃Well；　Pete；〃　called　Cyril's　voice；　none　too　cordially。

〃Pete；　indeed！〃　scoffed　Bertram。　　〃You've　got　company；　young　man。
Open　the　door。　　Miss　Billy　is　viewing　the　Strata。〃

The　bare　floor　echoed　to　a　quick　tread；　then　the　door　opened　and
Cyril　faced　them　with　a　forced　smile　on　his　lips。

〃Come　inthough　I　fear　there　will　be　littleto　see；〃　he　said。

Bertram　assumed　a　pompous　attitude。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　you　behold　here　the　lion　in　his　lair。〃

〃Be　still；　Bertram；〃　ordered　Cyril。

〃He　is　a　lion；　really；〃　confided　Bertram；　in　a　lower　voice；　〃but　as
he　prefers　it；　we'll　just　call　him　'the　Musical　Man。'〃

〃I　should　think　I　was　some　sort　of　music…box　that　turned　with　a
crank；〃　bristled　Cyril。

Bertram　grinned。

〃ACRANK；　did　you　say？　　Well；　even　I　wouldn't　have　quite　dared　to
say　that；　you　know！〃

With　an　impatient　gesture　Cyril　turned　on　his　heel。　　Bertram　fell
once　more　into　his　pompous　attitude。

〃Before　you　is　the　Man's　workshop；〃　he　orated。　　〃At　your　right　you
see　his　instruments　of　tor　　I　mean；　his　instruments：　a　piano；
flute；　etc。　　At　your　left　is　the　desk　with　its　pens；　paper；
erasers；　ink　and　postage　stamps。　　I　mention　these　because　there
areerso　few　things　to　mention　here。　　Beyond；　through　the　open
door；　one　may　catch　glimpses　of　still　other　rooms；　but　they　hold
even　less　than　this　one　holds。　　Tradition　doth　assert；　however；
that　in　one　is　a　couch…bed；　and　in　another；　two　chairs。〃

Billy　listened　silently。　　Her　eyes　were　questioning。　　She　was　not
quite　sure　how　to　take　Bertram's　words；　and　the　bare　rooms　and
their　stern…faced　master　filled　her　with　a　vague　pity。　　But　the
pause　that　followed　Bertram's　nonsense　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　her
to　fill　it。

〃Oh；　I　should　like　to　hear　youplay；　Mr。　Cyril；〃　she　stammered。
Then；　gathering　courage。　　〃CAN　you　play　'The　Maiden's　Prayer'？〃

Bertram　gave　a　cough；　a　spasmodic　cough　that　sent　him；　red…faced；
out　into　the　hall。　　From　there　he　called：

〃Can't　stop　for　the　animals　to　perform；　Miss　Billy。　　It's　'most
dinner　time；　and　we've　got　lots　to　see　yet。〃

〃All　right；　butsometime；〃　nodded　Billy　over　her　shoulder　to　Cyril
as　she　turned　away。　　〃I　just　love　that　'Maiden's　Prayer'！〃

〃Now　this　is　William's　stratum；〃　announced　Bertram　at　the　foot　of
the　stairs。　　〃You　will　perceive　that　there　is　no　knocking　here；
William's　doors　are　always　open。〃

〃By　all　means！　　Come　income　in；〃　called　William's　cheery　voice。

〃Oh；　my；　what　a　lot　of　things！〃　exclaimed　Billy。　　〃Mymywhat　a
lot　of　things！　　How　Spunk　will　like　this　room！〃

Bertram　chuckled；　then　he　made　a　great　display　of　drawing　a　long
breath。

〃In　the　short　time　at　our　disposal；〃　he　began　loftily；　〃it　will　be
impossible　to　point　out　each　particular　article　and　give　its
history　from　the　beginning；　but　somewhere　you　will　find　four　round
white　stones；　which〃

〃Eryes；　we　know　all　about　those　white　stones；〃　interrupted
William；　〃and　you'll　please　let　me　talk　about　my　own　things
myself！〃　　And　he　beamed　benevolently　on　the　wondering…eyed　girl　at
Bertram's　side。

〃But　there　are　so　many！〃　breathed　Billy。

〃All　the　more　chance　then；〃　smiled　William；　〃that　somewhere　among
them　you'll　find　something　to　interest　you。　　Now　these　Chinese
ceramics；　and　these　bronzesmaybe　you'd　like　those；〃　he　suggested。
And　with　a　resigned　sigh　and　an　exaggerated　air　of　submission；
Bertram　stepped　back　and　gave　way　to　his　brother。

〃And　there　are　these　miniatures；　and　these　Japanese　porcelains。　　Or
perhaps　you'd　like　stamps；　or　theatre　programs　better；〃　William
finished　anxiously。

Billy　did　not　reply。　　She　was　turning　round　and　round；　her　eyes
wide　and　amazed。　　Suddenly　she　pounced　on　a　beautifully　decorated
teapot；　and　held　it　up　in　admiring　hands。

〃Oh；　what　a　pretty　teapot！　　And　what　a　cute　little　plate　it　sets
in！〃　she　cried。

The　collector　fairly　bubbled　over　with　joy。

〃That's　a　Lowestofta　real　Lowestoft！〃　he　crowed。　　〃Not　that　hard…
paste　stuff　from　the　Orient　that's　CALLED　Lowestoft；　but　the　real
thingEnglish；　you　know。　　And　that's　the　tray　that　goes　with　it；
too。　　Wonderfulhow　I　got　them　both！　　You　know　they　'most　always
get　separated。　　I　paid　a　cool　hundred　for　them；　anyhow。〃

〃A　hundred　dollars　for　a　teapot！〃　gasped　Billy。

〃Yes；　and　here's　a　nice　little　piece　of　lustre…ware。　　Prettyisn't
it？　　And　there's　a　fine　bit　of　black　basalt。　　And〃

〃ErWill；〃　interposed　Bertram；　meekly。

〃Oh；　and　here's　a　Castleford；〃　cried　William；　paying　no　attention
to　the　interruption。　　〃Marked；　too；　see？　　'D。　D。　&　Co。；　Castleford。'
You　know　there　isn't　much　of　that　ware　marked。　　This　is　a　beauty；
too；　I　think。　　You　see　this　pitted　surfacethey　made　that　with　tiny
little　points　set　into　the　inner　side　of　the　mold。　The　design　stands
out　fine　on　this。　　It's　one　of　the　best　I　ever　saw。　　And；　oh〃

〃ErWilliam；〃　interposed　Bertram　again；　a　little　louder　this　time。
〃May　I　just　say〃

〃And　did　you　notice　this　'Old　Blue'？〃　hurried　on　William；　eagerly。
〃Lid　sets　down　in；　you　seethat's　older　than　the　kind　where　it
sets　over　the　top。　　Now　here's　one〃

〃William；〃　almost　shouted　Bertram；　〃DINNER　IS　READY！　　Pete　has
sounded　the　gong　twice　already！〃

〃Eh？　　Oh；　sure　enoughsure　enough；〃　acknowledged　William；　with　a
regretful　glance　at　his　treasures。　　〃Well；　we　must　go；　we　must　go。〃

〃But　I　haven't　seen　your　stratum　at　all；〃　demurred　Billy　to　her
guide；　as　they　went　down　the　stairway。

〃Then　there's　something　left　for　to…morrow；〃　promised　Bertram；　〃but
you　must　remember；　I　haven't　got　any　beautiful　'Old　Blues'　and
'black　basalts；'　to　say　nothing　of　stamps　and　baggage　tags。　　But
I'll　make　you　some　teasome　real　teaand　that's　more　than　William
has　done；　with　all　his　hundred　and　one　teapots！〃



CHAPTER　XI

BERTRAM　HAS　VISITORS


Spunk　did　not　change　his　name；　but　that　was　perhaps　the　only　thing
that　did　not　meet　with　some　sort　of　change　during　the　weeks　that
immediately　followed　Billy's　arrival。　　Given　a　house；　five　men；　and
an　ironbound　routine　of　life；　and　it　is　scarcely　necessary　to　say
that　the　advent　of　a　somewhat　fussy　elderly　woman；　an　impulsive
young　girl；　and　a　very…much…alive　small　cat　will　make　some
difference。　　As　to　Spunk's　nameit　was　not　Mrs。　Stetson's　fault
that　even　that　was　left　undisturbed。

Mrs。　Stetson　early　became　acquainted　with　Spunk。　　She　was
introduced　to　him；　indeed；　on　the　night　of　her　arrivalthough
fortunately　not　at　table：　William　had　seen　to　it　that　Spunk　did　not
appear　at　dinner；　though　to　accomplish　this　the　man　had　been
obliged　to　face　the　amazed　and　grieved　indignation　of　the　kitten's
mistress。

〃But　I　don't　see　how　any　one　CAN　object　to　a　nice　clean　little　cat
at　the　table；〃　Billy　had　remonstrated　tearfully。

〃I　know；　buterthey　do；　sometimes；〃　William　had　stammered；　〃and
this　is　one　of　the　times。　　Aunt　Hannah　would　never　stand　for　it
never！〃

〃Oh；　but　she　doesn't　know　Spunk；〃　Billy　had　observed　then；
hopefully。　　〃You　just　wait　until　she　knows　him。〃

Mrs。　Stetson　began　to　〃know〃　Spunk　the　next　day。　　The　immediate
source　of　her　knowledge　was　the　discovery　that　Spunk　had　found　her
ball　of　black　kni