miss billy-第8章

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source　of　her　knowledge　was　the　discovery　that　Spunk　had　found　her
ball　of　black　knitting　yarn；　and　had　delightedly　captured　it。　　Not
that　he　was　content　to　let　it　remain　where　it　wasindeed；　no。　　He
rolled　it　down　the　stairs；　batted　it　through　the　hall　to　the
drawing…room；　and　then　proceeded　to　'chasse'　with　it　in　and　out
among　the　legs　of　various　chairs　and　tables；　ending　in　one　grand
whirl　that　wound　the　yarn　round　and　round　his　small　body；　and
keeled　him　over　half　upon　his　back。　　There　he　blissfully　went　to
sleep。

Billy　found　him　after　a　gleeful　following　of　the　slender　woollen
trail。　　Mrs。　Stetson　was　with　herbut　she　was　not　gleeful。

〃Oh；　Aunt　Hannah；　Aunt　Hannah；〃　gurgled　Billy；　〃isn't　he　just　too
cute　for　anything？〃

Aunt　Hannah　shook　her　head。

〃I　must　confess　I　don't　see　it；〃　she　declared。　　〃My　dear；　just　look
at　that　hopeless　snarl！〃

〃Oh；　but　it　isn't　hopeless　at　all；〃　laughed　Billy。　　〃It's　like　one
of　those　strings　they　unwind　at　parties　with　a　present　at　the　end
of　it。　　And　Spunk　is　the　present；〃　she　added；　when　she　had
extricated　the　small　gray　cat。　　〃And　you　shall　hold　him；〃　she
finished；　graciously　entrusting　the　sleepy　kitten　to　Mrs。　Stetson's
unwilling　arms。

〃But；　IitI　can'tBilly！　　I　don't　like　that　name；〃　blurted　out
the　indignant　little　lady　with　as　much　warmth　as　she　ever　allowed
herself　to　show。　　〃It　must　be　changed　toto　'Thomas。'〃

〃Changed？　　Spunk's　name　changed？〃　demanded　Billy；　in　a　horrified
voice。　　〃Why；　Aunt　Hannah；　it　can't　be　changed；　it's　HIS；　you
know。〃　　Then　she　laughed　merrily。　〃'Thomas；'　indeed！　　Why；　you　old
dear！just　suppose　I　should　ask　YOU　to　change　your　name！　　Now　_I_
like　'Helen　Clarabella'　lots　better　than　'Hannah；'　but　I'm　not
going　to　ask　you　to　change　thatand　I'm　going　to　love　you　just　as
well；　even　if　you　are　'Hannah'see　if　I　don't！　　And　you'll　love
Spunk；　too；　I'm　sure　you　will。　　Now　watch　me　find　the　end　of　this
snarl！〃　　And　she　danced　over　to　the　dumbfounded　little　lady　in　the
big　chair；　gave　her　an　affectionate　kiss；　and　then　attacked　the
tangled　mass　of　black　with　skilful　fingers。

〃But；　Iyouoh；　my　grief　and　conscience！〃　finished　the　little
woman　whose　name　was　not　Helen　Clarabella。〃Oh；　my　grief　and
conscience；〃　according　to　Bertram；　was　Aunt　Hannah's　deadliest
swear…word。

In　Aunt　Hannah's　black　silk　lap　Spunk　stretched　luxuriously；　and
blinked　sleepy　eyes；　then　with　a　long　purr　of　content　he　curled
himself　for　another　napstill　Spunk。

It　was　some　time　after　luncheon　that　day　that　Bertram　heard　a　knock
at　his　studio　door。　　Bertram　was　busy。　　His　particular　pet　〃Face　of
a　Girl〃　was　to　be　submitted　soon　to　the　judges　of　a　forthcoming　Art
Exhibition；　and　it　was　not　yet　finished。　　He　was　trying　to　make　up
now　for　the　many　hours　lost　during　the　last　few　days；　and　even
Bertram；　at　times；　did　not　like　interruptions。　　His　model　had　gone；
but　he　was　still　working　rapidly　when　the　knock　came。　　His　tone　was
not　quite　cordial　when　he　answered。

〃Well？〃

〃It's　ISpunk　and　I。　　May　we　come　in？〃　called　a　confident　voice。

Bertram　said　a　sharp　word　behind　his　teethbut　he　opened　the　door。

〃Of　course！　　I　waspainting；〃　he　announced。

〃How　lovely！　　And　I'll　watch　you。　　Oh；　mywhat　a　pretty　room！〃

〃I'm　glad　you　like　it。〃

〃Indeed　I　do；　I　like　it　ever　so　much。　　I　shall　stay　here　lots；　I
know。〃

〃Oh；　youwill！〃　　For　once　even　Bertram's　ready　tongue　failed　to
find　fitting　response。

〃Yes。　　Now　paint。　　I　want　to　see　you。　　Aunt　Hannah　has　gone　out
anyway；　and　I'm　lonesome。　　I　think　I'll　stay。〃

〃But　I　can'tthat　is；　I'm　not　used　to　spectators。〃

〃Of　course　you　aren't；　you　poor　old　lonesomeness！　　But　it　isn't
going　to　be　that　way；　any　more；　you　know；　now　that　I've　come。　　I
sha'n't　let　you　be　lonesome。〃

〃I　could　swear　to　that；〃　declared　the　man；　with　sudden　fervor；　and
for　Billy's　peace　of　mind　it　was　just　as　well；　perhaps；　that　she
did　not　know　the　exact　source　of　that　fervency。

〃Now　paint；〃　commanded　Billy　again。

Because　he　did　not　know　what　else　to　do；　Bertram　picked　up　a　brush；
but　he　did　not　paint。　　The　first　stroke　of　his　brush　against　the
canvas　was　to　Spunk　a　challenge；　and　Spunk　never　refused　a
challenge。　　With　a　bound　he　was　on　Bertram's　knee；　gleeful　paw
outstretched；　batting　at　the　end　of　the　brush。

〃Tut；　tutno；　nonaughty　Spunk！　　Say；　but　wasn't　that　cute？〃
chuckled　Billy。　　〃Do　it　again！〃

The　artist　gave　an　exasperated　sigh。

〃My　dear　girl；〃　he　protested；　〃cruel　as　it　may　seem　to　you；　this
picture　is　not　a　kindergarten　game　for　the　edification　of　small
cats。　　I　must　politely　ask　Spunk　to　desist。〃

〃But　he　won't！〃　laughed　Billy。　　〃Never　mind；　we　will　take　it　some
day　when　he's　asleep。　　Let's　not　paint　any　more；　anyhow。　　I've　come
to　see　your　rooms。〃　　And　she　sprang　blithely　to　her　feet。　　〃Dear；
dear；　what　a　lot　of　faces！and　all　girls；　too！　　How　funny！　　Why
don't　you　paint　other　things？　　Still；　they　are　rather　nice。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　accepted　Bertram；　dryly。

Bertram　did　not　paint　any　more　that　afternoon。　　Billy　found　much　to
interest　her；　and　she　asked　numberless　questions。　　She　was　greatly
excited　when　she　understood　the　full　significance　of　the
omnipresent　〃Face　of　a　Girl〃；　and　she　graciously　offered　to　pose
herself　for　the　artist。　　She　spent；　indeed；　quite　half　an　hour
turning　her　head　from　side　to　side；　and　demanding　〃Now　how's　that？
and　that？〃　　Tiring　at　last　of　this；　she　suggested　Spunk　as　a
substitute；　remarking　that；　after　all；　catspretty　cats　like
Spunkwere　even　nicer　to　paint　than　girls。

She　rescued　Spunk　then　from　the　paint…box　where　he　had　been　holding
high　carnival　with　Bertram's　tubes　of　paint；　and　demanded　if
Bertram　ever　saw　a　more　delightful；　more　entrancing；　more
altogether…to…be…desired　model。　　She　was　so　artless；　so　merry；　so
frankly　charmed　with　it　all　that　Bertram　could　not　find　it　in　his
heart　to　be　angry；　notwithstanding　his　annoyance。　　But　when　at　four
o'clock；　she　took　herself　and　her　cat　cheerily　up…stairs；　he　lifted
his　hands　in　despair。

〃Great　Scott！〃　he　groaned。　　〃If　this　is　a　sample　of　what's　coming
I'm　GOING；　that's　all！〃



CHAPTER　XII

CYRIL　TAKES　HIS　TURN


Billy　had　been　a　member　of　the　Beacon　Street　household　a　week
before　she　repeated　her　visit　to　Cyril　at　the　top　of　the　house。
This　time　Bertram　was　not　with　her。　　She　went　alone。　　Even　Spunk
was　left　behindBilly　remembered　her　prospective　host's　aversion
to　cats。

Billy　did　not　feel　that　she　knew　Cyril　very　well。　　She　had　tried
several　times　to　chat　with　him；　but　she　had　made　so　little　headway；
that　she　finally　came　to　the　conclusionprivately　expressed　to
Bertramthat　Mr。　Cyril　was　bashful。　　Bertram　had　only　laughed。　　He
had　laughed　the　harder　because　at　that　moment　he　could　hear　Cyril
pounding　out　his　angry　annoyance　on　the　piano　upstairsCyril　had
just　escaped　from　one　of　Billy's　most　determined　〃attempts；〃　and
Bertram　knew　it。　　Bertram's　laugh　had　puzzled　Billyand　it　had　not
quite　pleased　her。　　Hence　to…day　she　did　not　tell　him　of　her　plan
to　go　up…stairs　and　see　what　she　could　do　herself；　alone；　to　combat
this　〃foolish　bashfulness〃　on　the　part　of　Mr。　Cyril　Henshaw。

In　spite　of　her　bravery；　Billy　waited　quite　one　whole　minute　at　the
top　of　the　stairs　before　she　had　the　courage　to　knock　at　Cyril's
door。

The　door　was　opened　at　once。

〃WhyBilly！〃　cried　the　man　in　surprise。

〃Yes；　it's　Billy。　　II　came　up　toto　get　acquainted；〃　she　smiled
winningly。

〃Why；　eryou　are　very　kind。　　Will　youcome　in？〃

〃Thank　you；　yes。　　You　see；　I　didn't　bring　Spunk。　　Iremembered。〃

Cyril　bowed　gravely。

〃You　are　very　kindagain；〃　he　said。

Billy　fidgeted　in　her　chair。　　To　her　mind　she　was　not　〃getting　on〃
at　all。　　She　determined　on　a　bold　stroke。

〃You　see；　I　thought　ifif　I　should　come　up　here；　where　there
wouldn't　be　so　many　around；　we　might　get　acquainted；〃　she　confided；
〃then　I　would　get　to　like　you　just　as　well　as　I　do　the　others。〃

At　the　odd　look　that　came　into　the　man's　face；　the　girl　realized
suddenly　what　she　had　said。　　Her　cheeks　flushed　a　confused　red。

〃Oh；　dear！　　That　is；　I　meanI　like　you；　of　course；〃　she　floundered
miserably；　then　she　broke　off　with　a　frank　laugh。　　〃There！　you　see
I　never　could　get　out　of　anything。　　I　might　as　well　own　right　up。
I　DON'T　like　you　as　well　as　I　do　Uncle　William　and　Mr。　Bertram。　　So
there！〃

Cyril　laughed。　　For　the　first　time　since　he　had　seen　Billy；
something　that　was　very　like　interest　came　into　his　eyes。

〃Oh；　you　don't；〃　he　retorted。　　〃Now　that　iservery　UNkind　of
you。〃

Billy　shook　her　head。

〃You　don't　say　that　as　if　you　meant　it；〃　she　accused　him；　her　eyes
gravely　studying　his　face。　　〃Now　I'M　in　earnest。　　_I_　really　want
to　like　YOU！〃

〃Thank　you。　　Then　perhaps　you　won't　mind　telling　me　why　you　don't
like　me；〃　he　suggested。

Again　Billy　flushed。

〃Why；　II　just　don't；　that's　all；〃　she　faltered。　　Then　she　cried
aggrievedly：　　〃There；　now！　you've　made　me　be　impolite；　and　I　didn't
mean　to　be；　truly。〃

〃Of　course　not；〃　assented　the　man；　〃and　it　wasn't　impolite；　because
I　asked　you　for　the　information；　you　know。　　I　may　conclude　then；〃
he　went　on　with　an　odd　twinkle　in　his　eyes；　〃that　I　am　merely
classed　with　tripe　and　rainy　days。〃

〃Withwha…at？〃

〃Tripe　and　rainy　days。　　Those　are　the　only　things；　if　I　remember
rightly；　that　you　don't　like。〃

The　girl　stared；　then　she　chuckled。

〃There！　　I　knew　I'd　like　you　better　if　you'd　only　SAY　something；〃
she　beamed。　　〃But　let's　not　talk　any　more　about　that。　　Play　to　me；
won't　you？　　You　know　you　promised　me　'The　Maiden's　Prayer。'〃

Cyril　stiffened。

〃Pardon　me；　but　you　must　be　mistaken；〃　he　replied　coldly。　　〃I　do
not　play　'The　Maiden's　Prayer。'〃

〃Oh；　what　a　shame！　　And　I　do　so　love　it！　　But　you　play　other
things；　I've　heard　you　a　little；　and　Mr。　Bertram　says　you　doin
concerts　and　things。〃

〃Does　he？〃　murmured　Cyril；　with　a　slight　lifting　of　his　eyebrows。

〃There！　　Now　off　you　go　again　all　silent　and　horrid！〃　chaffed
Billy。　　〃What　have　I　said　now？　　Mr。　Cyrildo　you　know　what　I
think？　　I　believe　you've　got　NERVES！〃　　Billy's　voice　was　so　tragic
that　the　man　could　but　laugh。

〃Perhaps　I　have；　Miss　Billy。〃

〃Like　Miss　Letty's？〃

〃I'm　not　acquainted　with　the　lady。〃

〃Gee！　wouldn't　you　two　make　a　pair！〃　chuckled　Billy　unexpectedly。
〃No；　but；　really；　I　meando　you　want　people　to　walk　on　tiptoe　and
speak　in　whispers？〃

〃Sometimes；　perhaps。〃

The　girl　sprang　to　her　feetbut　she　sighed。

〃Then　I'm　going。　　This　might　be　one　of　the　times；　you　know。〃　　She
hesitated；　then　walked　to　the　piano。　　〃My；　wouldn't　I　like　to　play
on　that！〃　she　breathed。

Cyril　shuddered。　　Cyril　could　imagine　what　Billy　would　playand
Cyril　did　not　like　〃rag…time；〃　nor　〃The　Storm。〃

〃Oh；　do　you　play？〃　he　asked　constrainedly。

Billy　shook　her　head。

〃Not　much。　　Only　little　bits　of　things；　you　know；〃　she　said
wistfully；　as　she　turned　toward　the　door。

For　some　minutes　after　she　had　gone；　Cyril　stood　where　she　had　left
him；　his　eyes　moody　and　troubled。

〃I　suppose　I　might　have　playedsomething；〃　he　muttered　at　last；
〃but'The　Maiden's　Prayer'！good　heavens！〃

Billy　was　a　little　shy　with　Cyril　when　he　came　down　to　dinner　that
night。　　For　the　next　few　days；　indeed；　she　held　herself　very
obviously　aloof　from　him。　　Cyril　caught　himself