miss billy-第15部分

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money　to　indulge　a　passion　for　traveling；　young　Calderwell　had
spent　the　most　of　his　time　since　graduation　in　daring　trips　into
the　heart　of　almost　impenetrable　forests；　or　to　the　top　of　almost
inaccessible　mountains；　with　an　occasional　more　ordinary　trip　to
give　variety。　　He　had　now　come　to　the　point；　however；　where　he　was
determined　to　〃settle　down　to　something　that　meant　something；〃　he
told　the　Henshaws；　as　the　four　men　smoked　in　Bertram's　den　after
dinner。

〃Yes；　sir；　I　have；〃　he　iterated。　　〃And；　by　the　way；　the　little　girl
that　has　set　me　to　thinking　in　such　good　earnest　is　a　friend　of
yours；　too；Miss　Neilson。　　I　met　her　in　Paris。　　She　was　on　our
yacht　all　last　summer。〃

Three　men　sat　suddenly　erect　in　their　chairs。

〃Billy？〃　cried　three　voices。　　〃Do　you　know　Billy？〃

〃To　be　sure！　　And　you　do；　too；　she　says。〃

〃Oh；　no；　we　don't；〃　disputed　Bertram；　emphatically。　　〃But　we　WISH
we　did！〃

His　guest　laughed。

〃Well；　I　fancy　you　DO　know　her；　or　you　wouldn't　have　answered　like
that；〃　he　retorted。　　〃For　you　just　begin　to　know　Miss　Billy　when
you　find　out　that　you　DON'T　know　her。　　She　is　a　charming　girla
very　charming　girl。〃

〃She　is　my　namesake；〃　announced　William；　in　what　Bertram　called　his
〃finest　ever〃　voice　that　he　used　only　for　the　choicest　bits　in　his
collections。

〃Yes；　she　told　me；〃　smiled　Calderwell。　　〃'Billy'　for　'William。'
Odd　idea；　too；　but　clever。　　It　helps　to　distinguish　her　even　more
though　she　doesn't　need　it；　for　that　matter。〃

〃'Doesn't　need　it；'〃　echoed　William　in　a　puzzled　voice。

〃No。　　Perhaps　you　don't　know；　Mr。　Henshaw；　but　Miss　Billy　is　a　very
popular　young　woman。　　You　have　reason　to　be　proud　of　your　namesake。〃

〃I　have　always　been　that；〃　declared　William；　with　just　a　touch　of
hauteur。

〃Tell　us　about　her；〃　begged　Bertram。　　〃You　remember　I　said　that　we
wished　we　did　know　her。〃

Calderwell　smiled。

〃I　don't　believe；　after　all；　that　you　do　know　much　about　her；〃　he
began　musingly。　〃Billy　is　not　one　who　talks　much　of　herself；　I
fancy；　in　her　letters。〃

William　frowned。　　This　time　there　was　more　than　a　touch　of　hauteur
in　his　voice。

〃MISS　NEILSON　is　not　one　to　show　vanity　anywhere；〃　he　said；　with
suggestive　emphasis　on　the　name。

〃Indeed　she　isn't；〃　agreed　Calderwell；　heartily。　　〃She　is　a　fine
girlquite　one　of　the　finest　I　know；　in　fact。〃

There　was　an　uncomfortable　silence。　　Over　in　the　corner　Cyril
puffed　at　his　cigar　with　an　air　almost　of　boredom。　　He　had　not
spoken　since　his　first　surprised　questioning　with　the　others；　〃Do
you　know　Billy？〃　　William　was　still　frowning。　　Even　Bertram　wore　a
look　that　was　not　quite　satisfied。

〃Miss　Neilson　has　spent　two　winters　in　Paris　now；　you　know；〃
resumed　Calderwell；　after　a　moment；　〃and　she　is　very　popular　both
with　the　American　colony；　and　with　the　other　students。　　As　for　her
'Aunt　Hannah'they　all　make　a　pet　of　her；　but　that　is；　perhaps；
because　Billy　herself　is　so　devoted。〃

Again　William　frowned　at　the　familiar　〃Billy〃；　but　Calderwell
talked　on　unheeding。

〃After　all；　I'm　not　sure　but　some　of　us　regard　'Aunt　Hannah'　with
scant　favor；　occasionally；〃　he　laughed；　〃something　as　if　she　were
the　dragon　that　guarded　the　princess；　you　know。　　Miss　Billy　IS
popular　with　the　men；　and　she　has　suitors　enough　to　turn　any　girl's
headbut　her　own。〃

〃Suitors！〃　cried　William；　plainly　aghast。　　〃Why；　Billy's　nothing
but　a　child！〃

Calderwell　gave　an　odd　smile。

〃How　long　is　it　since　you've　seenMiss　Neilson？〃　he　asked。

〃Two　years。〃

〃And　then　only　for　a　few　minutes　just　before　she　sailed；〃　amended
Bertram。　　〃We　haven't　really　seen　much　of　her　since　three　years
ago。〃

〃Hm…m；　well；　you'll　see　for　yourself　soon。　　You　know　she's　coming
home　next　month。〃

Not　one　of　the　brothers　did　know　itbut　not　one　of　them　intended
that　Calderwell　should　find　out　that　they　did　not。

〃Yes；　she's　coming　home；〃　said　William；　lifting　his　chin　a　little。

〃Oh；　yes；　next　month；〃　added　Bertram；　nonchalantly。

Even　Cyril　across　the　room　was　not　to　be　outdone。

〃Yes。　　Miss　Neilson　comes　home　next　month；〃　he　said。



CHAPTER　XXI

BILLY；　THE　REALITY


Very　early　in　May　came　the　cheery　letter　from　Billy　herself
announcing　the　news　of　her　intended　return。

〃And　I　shall　be　so　glad　to　see　you　all；〃　she　wrote　in　closing。　　〃It
seems　so　long　since　I　left　America。〃　　Then　she　signed　her　name　with
〃kindest　regards　to　all〃Billy　did　not　send　〃love　to　all〃　any
more。

William　at　once　began　to　make　plans　for　his　namesake's　comfort。

〃But；　Will；　she　didn't　say　she　was　coming　here；〃　Bertram　reminded
him。

〃She　didn't　need　to；〃　smiled　William；　confidently。　　〃She　just　took
it　for　granted；　of　course。　　This　is　her　home。〃

〃But　it　hasn't　beenfor　years。　　She's　called　Hampden　Falls　'home。'〃

〃I　know；　but　that　was　before；〃　demurred　William；　his　eyes　a　little
anxious。　　〃Besides；　they've　sold　the　house　now；　you　know。　　There's
nowhere　for　her　to　go　but　here；　Bertram。〃

〃All　right；〃　acquiesced　the　younger　man；　still　doubtingly。　　〃Maybe
that's　so；　maybe！　　But〃　he　did　not　finish　his　sentence；　and　his
eyes　were　troubled　as　he　watched　his　brother　begin　to　rearrange
Billy's　rooms。　　In　time；　however；　so　sure　was　William　of　Billy's
return　to　the　Beacon　Street　house；　that　Bertram　ceased　to　question；
and；　with　almost　as　much　confidence　as　William　himself　displayed；
he　devoted　his　energies　to　the　preparations　for　Billy's　arrival。

And　what　preparations　they　were！　　Even　Cyril　helped　this　time　to
the　extent　of　placing　on　Billy's　piano　a　copy　of　his　latest　book；
and　a　pile　of　new　music。　　Nor　were　the　melodies　that　floated　down
from　the　upper　floor　akin　to　funeral　marches；　they　were　perilously
near　to　being　allied　to　〃ragtime。〃

At　last　everything　was　ready。　　There　was　not　one　more　bit　of　dust
to　catch　Pete's　eye；　nor　one　more　adornment　that　demanded　William's
careful　hand　to　adjust。　　In　Billy's　rooms　new　curtains　graced　the
windows　and　new　rugs　the　floors。　　In　Mrs。　Stetson's；　too；　similar
changes　had　been　made。　　The　latest　and　best　〃Face　of　a　Girl〃　smiled
at　one　from　above　Billy's　piano；　and　the　very　rarest　of　William's
treasures　adorned　the　mantelpiece。　　No　guns　nor　knives　nor　fishing…
rods　met　the　eyes　now。　　Instead；　at　every　turn；　there　was　a　hint　of
feminine　tastes：　a　mirror；　a　workbasket；　a　low　sewing…chair；　a
stand　with　a　tea　tray。　　And　everywhere　were　roses；　up…stairs　and
down…stairs；　until　the　air　was　heavy　with　their　perfume。　　In　the
dining…room　Pete　was　again　〃swinging　back　and　forth　like　a
pendulum；〃　it　is　true；　but　it　was　a　cheerful　pendulum　to…day；
anxious　only　that　no　time　should　be　lost。　　In　the　kitchen　alone　was
there　unhappiness；　and　there　because　Dong　Ling　had　already　spoiled
a　whole　cake　of　chocolate　in　a　vain　attempt　to　make　Billy's
favorite　fudge。　　Even　Spunkie；　grown　now　to　be　sleek；　lazy；　and
majestically　indifferent；　was　in　holiday　attire；　for　a　brand…new
pink　bow　of　huge　dimensions　adorned　his　fat　neckfor　the　first
time　in　many　months。

〃You　see；〃　William　had　explained　to　Bertram；　〃I　put　on　that　ribbon
again　because　I　thought　it　would　make　Spunkie　seem　more　homelike；
and　more　like　Spunk。　　You　know　there　wasn't　anything　Billy　missed
so　much　as　that　kitten　when　she　went　abroad。　　Aunt　Hannah　said　so。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　Bertram　had　laughed；　〃but　still；　Spunkie　isn't
Spunk；　you　understand！〃　he　had　finished；　with　a　vision　in　his　eyes
of　Billy　as　she　had　looked　that　first　night　when　she　had
triumphantly　lifted　from　the　green　basket　the　little　gray　kitten
with　its　enormous　pink　bow。　　This　time　there　was　no　circuitous
journeying；　no　secrecy　in　the　trip　to　New　York。　　Quite　as　a　matter
of　course　the　three　brother　made　their　plans　to　meet　Billy；　and
quite　as　a　matter　of　course　they　met　her。　　Perhaps　the　only　cloud
in　the　horizon　of　their　happiness　was　the　presence　of　Calderwell。
He；　too；　had　come　to　meet　Billyand　all　the　Henshaw　brothers　were
vaguely　conscious　of　a　growing　feeling　of　dislike　toward　Calderwell。

Billy　was　unmistakably　glad　to　see　themand　to　see　Calderwell。　　It
was　while　she　was　talking　to　Calderwell；　indeed；　that　William　and
Cyril　and　Bertram　had　an　opportunity　really　to　see　the　girl；　and　to
note　what　time　had　done　for　her。　　They　knew　then；　at　once；　that
time　had　been　very　kind。

It　was　a　slim　Billy　that　they　saw；　with　a　head　royally　poised；　and
a　chin　that　was　round　and　soft；　and　yet　knew　well　its　own　mind。
The　eyes　were　still　appealing；　in　a　way；　yet　behind　the　appeal　lay
unsounded　depths　ofnot　one　of　the　brothers　could　quite　make　up
his　mind　just　what；　yet　all　the　brothers　determined　to　find　out。
The　hair　still　curled　distractingly　behind　the　pretty　ears；　and
fluffed　into　burnished　bronze　where　the　wind　had　loosened　it。　　The
cheeks　were　paler　now；　though　the　rose…flush　still　glowed　warmly
through　the　clear；　smooth　skin。　　The　mouthBilly's　mouth　had
always　been　fascinating；　Bertram　suddenly　decided；　as　he　watched　it
now。　　He　wanted　to　paint　itagain。　　It　was　not　too　large　for
beauty　nor　too　small　for　strength。　　It　curved　delightfully；　and　the
lower　lip　had　just　the　fullness　and　the　color　that　he　likedto
paint；　he　said　to　himself。

William；　too；　was　watching　Billy's　mouth；　in　factthough　he　did
not　know　itone　never　was　long　near　Billy　without　noticing　her
mouth；　if　she　talked。　　William　thought　it　pretty；　merry；　and
charmingly　kissable；　but　just　now　he　wished　that　it　would　talk　to
him；　and　not　to　Calderwell　any　longer。　　Cyrilindeed；　Cyril　was
paying　little　attention　to　Billy。　　He　had　turned　to　Aunt　Hannah。
To　tell　the　truth；　it　seemed　to　Cyril　that；　after　all；　Billy　was
very　much　like　other　merry；　thoughtless；　rather　noisy　young　women；
of　whom　he　knewand　dislikedscores。　　It　had　occurred　to　him
suddenly　that　perhaps　it　would　not　be　unalloyed　bliss　to　take　this
young　namesake　of　William's　home　with　them。

It　was　not　until　an　hour　later；　when　Billy；　Aunt　Hannah；　and　the
Henshaws　had　reached　the　hotel　where　they　were　to　spend　the　night；
that　the　Henshaw　brothers　began　really　to　get　acquainted　with
Billy。　　She　seemed　then　more　like　their　own　Billythe　Billy　that
they　had　known。

〃And　I'm　so　glad　to　be　here；〃　she　cried；　〃and　to　see　you　all。
America　IS　the　best　place；　after　all！〃

〃And　of　America；　Boston　is　the　Hub；　you　know；〃