miss billy-第9章

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night。　　For　the　next　few　days；　indeed；　she　held　herself　very
obviously　aloof　from　him。　　Cyril　caught　himself　wondering　once　if
she　were　afraid　of　his　〃nerves。〃　　He　did　not　try　to　find　out；
however；　he　was　too　emphatically　content　that　of　her　own　accord　she
seemed　to　be　leaving　him　in　peace。

It　must　have　been　a　week　after　Billy's　visit　to　the　top　of　the
house　that　Cyril　stopped　his　playing　very　abruptly　one　day；　and
opened　his　door　to　go　down…stairs。　　At　the　first　step　he　started
back　in　amazement。

〃Why；　Billy！〃　he　ejaculated。

The　girl　was　sitting　very　near　the　top　of　the　stairway。　　At　his
appearance　she　got　to　her　feet　shamefacedly。

〃Why；　Billy；　what　in　the　world　are　you　doing　there？〃

〃Listening。〃

〃Listening！〃

〃Yes。　　Do　you　mind？〃

The　man　did　not　answer。　　He　was　too　surprised　to　find　words　at
once；　and　he　was　trying　to　recollect　what　he　had　been　playing。

〃You　see；　listening　to　music　this　way　isn't　like　listening　toto
talking；〃　hurried　on　Billy；　feverishly。　　〃It　isn't　sneaking　like
that；　is　it？〃

〃Whyno。〃

〃And　you　don't　mind？〃

〃Why；　surely；　I　ought　not　to　mindthat；〃　he　admitted。

〃Then　I　can　keep　right　on　as　I　have　done。　　Thank　you；〃　sighed
Billy；　in　relief。

〃Keep　right　on！　　Have　you　been　here　before？〃

〃Why；　yes；　lots　of　days。　　And；　say；　Mr。　Cyril；　what　is　thatthat
thing　that's　all　chords　with　big　bass　notes　that　keep　saying
something　so　fine　and　splendid　that　it　marches　on　and　on；　getting
bigger　and　grander；　just　as　if　there　couldn't　anything　stop　it；
until　it　all　ends　in　one　great　burst　of　triumph？　　Mr。　Cyril；　what
is　that？〃

〃Why；　Billy！〃the　interest　this　time　in　the　man's　face　was　not
faint〃I　wish　I　might　make　others　catch　my　meaning　as　I　have
evidently　made　you　do　it！　　That's　something　of　my　ownthat　I'm
writing；　you　understand；　and　I've　tried　to　sayjust　what　you　say
you　heard。〃

〃And　I　did　hear　itI　did！　　Oh；　won't　you　play　it；　please；　with　the
door　open？〃

〃I　can't；　Billy。　　I'm　sorry；　indeed　I　am。　　But　I've　an　appointment；
and　I'm　late　now。　　You　shall　hear　it；　though；　I　promise　you；　and
with　the　door　wide　open；〃　continued　the　man；　as；　with　a　murmured
apology；　he　passed　the　girl　and　hurried　down　the　stairs。

Billy　waited　until　she　heard　the　outer　hall　door　shut；　then　very
softly　she　crept　through　Cyril's　open　doorway；　and　crossed　the　room
to　the　piano。



CHAPTER　XIII

A　SURPRISE　ALL　AROUND


May　came；　and　with　it　warm　sunny　days。　　There　was　a　little　balcony
at　the　rear　of　the　second　floor；　and　on　this　Mrs。　Stetson　and　Billy
sat　many　a　morning　and　sewed。　　There　were　occupations　that　Billy
liked　better　than　sewing；　but　she　was　dutiful；　and　she　was　really
fond　of　Aunt　Hannah；　so　she　accepted　as　gracefully　as　possible　that
good　lady's　dictum　that　a　woman　who　could　not　sew；　and　sew　well；
was　no　lady　at　all。

One　of　the　things　that　Billy　liked　to　do　so　much　better　than　to　sew
was　to　play　on　Cyril's　piano。　　She　was　very　careful；　however；　that
Mr。　Cyril　himself　did　not　find　this　out。　　Cyril　was　frequently　gone
from　the　house；　and　almost　as　frequently　Aunt　Hannah　took　naps。　　At
such　times　it　was　very　easy　to　slip　up…stairs　to　Cyril's　rooms；　and
once　at　the　piano；　Billy　forgot　everything　else。

One　day；　however；　the　inevitable　happened：　Cyril　came　home
unexpectedly。　　The　man　heard　the　piano　from　William's　floor；　and
with　a　surprised　ejaculation　he　hurried　upstairs　two　steps　at　a
time。　　At　the　door　he　stopped　in　amazement。

Billy　was　at　the　piano；　but　she　was　not　playing　〃rag…time；〃　〃The
Storm；〃　nor　yet　〃The　Maiden's　Prayer。〃　　There　was　no　music　before
her；　but　under　her　fingers　〃big　bass　notes〃　very　much　like　Cyril's
own；　were　marching　on　and　on　to　victory。　　Billy's　face　was
rapturously　intent　and　happy。

〃By　JoveBilly！〃　gasped　the　man。

Billy　leaped　to　her　feet　and　whirled　around　guiltily。

〃Oh；　Mr。　CyrilI'm　so　sorry！〃

〃Sorry！and　you　play　like　that！〃

〃No；　no；　I'm　not　sorry　I　played。　　It's　because　youfound　me。〃

Billy's　cheeks　were　a　shamed　red；　but　her　eyes　were　defiantly
brilliant；　and　her　chin　was　at　a　rebellious　tilt。　　〃I　wasn't　doing
anyharm；　not　if　you　weren't　herewith　your　NERVES！〃

The　man　laughed　and　came　slowly　into　the　room。

〃Billy；　who　taught　you　to　play？〃

〃No　one。　　I　can't　play。　　I　can　only　pick　out　little　bits　of　things
in　C。〃

〃But　you　do　play。　　I　just　heard　you。〃

Billy　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃That　was　nothing。　　It　was　only　what　I　had　heard。　　I　was　trying　to
make　it　sound　likeyours。〃

〃And；　by　George！　you　succeeded；〃　muttered　Cyril　under　his　breath；
then　aloud　he　asked：　　〃Didn't　you　ever　study　music？〃

Billy's　eyes　dimmed。

〃No。　　That　was　the　only　thing　Aunt　Ella　and　I　didn't　think　alike
about。　　She　had　an　old　square　piano；　all　tin…panny　and　thin；　you
know。　　I　played　some　on　it；　and　wanted　to　take　lessons；　but　I
didn't　want　to　practise　on　that。　　I　wanted　a　new　one。　　That's　what
she　wouldn't　doget　me　a　new　piano；　or　let　me　do　it。　　She　said　SHE
practised　on　that　piano；　and　that　it　was　quite　good　enough　for　me；
especially　to　learn　on。　　II'm　afraid　I　got　stuffy。　　I　hated　that
piano　so！　　But　I　was　almost　ready　to　give　in　whenwhen　Aunt　Ella
died。〃

〃And　all　you　play　then　is　just　by　ear？〃

〃Byear？　　I　suppose　soif　you　mean　what　I　hear。　　Easy　things　I
can　play　quick；　butbut　those　chords　ARE　hard；　they　skip　around
so！〃

Cyril　smiled　oddly。

〃I　should　say　so；〃　he　agreed。　　〃But　perhaps　there　is　something　else
that　I　playthat　you　like。　　Is　there？〃

〃Oh；　yes。　　Now　there's　that　little　thing　that　swings　and　sways　like
this；〃　cried　Billy；　dropping　herself　on　to　the　piano　stool　and
whisking　about。　　Billy　was　not　afraid　now；　nor　defiant。　　She　was
only　eager　and　happy　again。　　In　a　moment　a　dreamy　waltz　fell　upon
Cyril's　earsa　waltz　that　he　often　played　himself。　　It　was　not
played　correctly；　it　is　true。　　There　were　notes；　and　sometimes
whole　measures；　that　were　very　different　from　the　printed　music。
But　the　tune；　the　rhythm；　and　the　spirit　were　there。

〃And　there's　this；〃　said　Billy；　〃and　this；〃　she　went　on；　sliding
into　one　little　strain　after　anotherall　of　which　were　recognized
by　the　amazed　man　at　her　side。

〃Billy；〃　he　cried；　when　she　had　finished　and　whirled　upon　him
again；　〃Billy；　would　you　like　to　learn　to　playreally　play　from
notes？〃

〃Oh；　wouldn't　I！〃

〃Then　you　shall！　　We'll　have　a　piano　tomorrow　in　your　rooms　for　you
to　practise　on。　　AndI'll　teach　you　myself。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　Mr。　Cyrilyou　don't　know　how　I　thank　you！〃　exulted
Billy；　as　she　danced　from　the　room　to　tell　Aunt　Hannah　of　this
great　and　good　thing　that　had　come　into　her　life。

To　Billy；　this　promise　of　Cyril's　to　be　her　teacher　was　very　kind；
very　delightful；　but　it　was　not　in　the　least　a　thing　at　which　to
marvel。　　To　Bertram；　however；　it　most　certainly　was。

〃Well；　guess　what's　happened；〃　he　said　to　William　that　night；　after
he　had　heard　the　news。　　〃I'll　believe　anything　nowanything：　that
you'll　raffle　off　your　collection　of　teapots　at　the　next　church
fair；　or　that　I　shall　go　to　Egypt　as　a　'Cooky'　guide。　　Listen；
Cyril　is　going　to　give　piano　lessons　to　Billy！CYRIL！〃



CHAPTER　XIV

AUNT　HANNAH　SPEAKS　HER　MIND


Bertram　said　that　the　Strata　was　not　a　strata　any　longer。　　He
declared　that　between　them；　Billy　and　Spunk　had　caused　such　an
upheaval　that　there　was　no　telling　where　one　stratum　left　off　and
another　began。　　What　Billy　had　not　attended　to；　Spunk　had；　he　said。

〃You　see；　it's　like　this；〃　he　explained　to　an　amused　friend　one
day。　　〃Billy　is　taking　piano　lessons　of　Cyril；　and　she　is　posing
for　one　of　my　heads。　　Naturally；　then；　such　feminine　belongings　as
fancy…work；　thread；　thimbles；　and　hairpins　are　due　to　show　up　at
any　time　either　in　Cyril's　apartments　or　mineto　say　nothing　of
William's；　and　she's　in　William's　lotsto　look　for　Spunk；　if　for
no　other　purpose。

〃You　must　know　that　Spunk　likes　William's　floor　the　best　of　the
bunch；　there　are　so　many　delightful　things　to　play　with。　　Not　that
Spunk　stays　theredear　me；　no。　　He's　a　sociable　little　chap；　and
his　usual　course　is　to　pounce　on　a　shelf；　knock　off　some　object
that　tickles　his　fancy；　then　lug　it　in　his　mouth　towell；　anywhere
that　he　happens　to　feel　like　going。　　Cyril　has　found　him　up…stairs
with　a　small　miniature；　battered　and　chewed　almost　beyond
recognition。　　And　Aunt　Hannah　nearly　had　a　fit　one　day　when　he
appeared　in　her　room　with　an　enormous　hard…shelled　black　bugdead；
of　coursethat　he　had　fished　from　a　case　that　Pete　had　left　open。
As　for　me；　I　can　swear　that　the　little　round　white　stone　he　was
playing　with　in　my　part　of　the　house　was　one　of　William's
Collection　Number　One。

〃And　that　isn't　all；〃　Bertram　continued。　　〃Billy　brings　her　music
down　to　show　to　me；　and　lugs　my　heads　all　over　the　rest　of　the
house　to　show　to　other　folks。　　And　there　is　always　everywhere　a
knit　shawl；　for　Aunt　Hannah　is　sure　to　feel　a　draught；　and　Billy
keeps　shawls　handy。　　So　there　you　are！　　We　certainly　aren't　a
strata　any　longer；〃　he　finished。

Billy　was；　indeed；　very　much　at　home　in　the　Beacon　Street　house
too　much　so；　Aunt　Hannah　thought。　　Aunt　Hannah　was；　in　fact；
seriously　disturbed。　　To　William　one　evening；　late　in　May；　she
spoke　her　mind。

〃William；　what　are　you　going　to　do　with　Billy？〃　she　asked　abruptly。

〃Do　with　her？　　What　do　you　mean？〃　returned　William　with　the
contented　smile　that　was　so　often　on　his　lips　these　days。　　〃This　is
Billy's　home。〃

〃That's　the　worst　of　it；〃　sighed　the　woman；　with　a　shake　of　her
head。

〃The　worst　of　it！　　Aunt　Hannah；　what　do　you　mean？　　Don't　you　like
Billy？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　William；　of　course　I　like　Billy。　　I　love　her！　　Who　could
help　it？　　That's　not　what　I　mean。　　It's　of　Billy　I'm　thinking；　and
of　the　rest　of　you。　　She　can't　stay　here　like　this。　　She　must　go
away；　to　school；　oror　somewhere。〃

〃And　she's　going　in　September；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃She'll　go　to
preparatory　school　first；　and　to　college；　probably。〃

〃Yes；　but　nowright　away。　　She　ought　to　gosomewhere。〃

〃Why；　yes；　for　the　summer；　of　course。　　But　those　plans　aren't
completed　yet。　　Billy　and　I　were　talking　of　it　last　evening。　　You
know　the　boys　are　always　away　more　or　less；　but　I　seldom　go　until
August；　and　we　let　Pete　and　Dong　Ling　off　then　for　a　month　and
close　the　house。　　I　told　Billy　I'd　send　you　and　her　anywhere　she
liked　for　the　whole　summer；　but　she　says　no。　　She　prefers　to　stay
here　with　me。　　But　I　don't　quite　fancy　that　ideathrough　all　the
hot　June　and　Julyso　I　don't　know　but　I'll　get　a　cottage　somewhere
near　at　one　of　the　beaches；　where　I　can　run　back　and　forth　night
and　morning。　　Of　course；　in　that　case；　we　take　Pete　and　Dong　Ling
with　us　and　close　the　house　right　away。　　I　fear　Cyril　would　not
fancy　it　much；　but；　after　all；　he　and　Bertram　would　be　off　more　or
less。　　They　always　are　in　the　summer。〃

〃But；　William；　you　haven't　yet　got　my　idea　at　all；〃　demurred　Aunt
Hannah；　with　a　discouraged　shake　of　her　head。　　〃It's　away！away
from　all　thisfrom　youthat　I　want　to　get　Billy。〃

〃Away！　　Away　from　me；〃　cried　the　man；　with　an　odd　intonation　of
terror；　as　he　started　forward　in　his　chair。　　〃Why；　Aunt　Hannah；
what　are　you　talking　about？〃

〃About　Billy。　　This　is　no　place　in　which　to　bring　up　a　young　girl
a　young　girl　who　has　not　one　shred　of　relationship　to