miss billy-第12节

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〃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　excuse　it。〃

〃But　she　is　my　namesake；　and　quite　alone　in　the　world；　Aunt　Hannah；
quite　alonepoor　child！〃

〃My　dear　William；　that　is　exactly　itshe　is　a　child；　and　yet　she
is　not。　　That's　where　the　trouble　lies。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃William；　Billy　has　been　brought　up　in　a　little　country　town　with
a　spinster　aunt　and　a　whole　good…natured；　tolerant　village　for
company。　　Well；　she　has　accepted　you　and　your　entire　household；
even　down　to　Dong　Ling；　on　the　same　basis。〃

〃Well；　I'm　sure　I'm　glad；〃　asserted　the　man　with　genial　warmth。
〃It's　good　for　us　to　have　her　here。　　It's　good　for　the　boys。　　She's
already　livened　Cyril　up　and　toned　Bertram　down。　　I　may　as　well
confess；　Aunt　Hannah；　that　I've　been　more　than　a　little　disturbed
about　Bertram　of　late。　　I　don't　like　that　Bob　Seaver　that　he　is　so
fond　of；　and　some　other　fellows；　too；　that　have　been　coming　here
altogether　too　much　during　the　last　year。　　Bertram　says　they're
only　a　little　'Bohemian'　in　their　tastes。　　And　to　me　that's　the
worst　of　it；　for　Bertram　himself　is　quite　too　much　inclined　that
way。〃

〃Exactly；　William。　　And　that　only　goes　to　prove　what　I　said　before。
Bertram　is　not　a　spinster　aunt；　and　neither　are　any　of　the　rest　of
you。　　But　Billy　takes　you　that　way。〃

〃Takes　us　that　wayas　spinster　aunts！〃

〃Yes。　　She　makes　herself　as　free　in　this　house　as　she　was　in　her
Aunt　Ella's　at　Hampden　Falls。　　She　flies　up　to　Cyril's　rooms　half　a
dozen　times　a　day　with　some　question　about　her　lessons；　and　I　don't
know　how　long　she'd　sit　at　his　feet　and　adoringly　listen　to　his
playing　if　he　didn't　sometimes　get　out　of　patience　and　tell　her　to
go　and　practise　herself。　　She　makes　nothing　of　tripping　into
Bertram's　studio　at　all　hours　of　the　day；　and　he's　sketched　her
head　at　every　conceivable　anglewhich　certainly　doesn't　tend　to
make　Billy　modest　or　retiring。　　As　to　youyou　know　how　much　she's
in　your　rooms；　spending　evening　after　evening　fussing　over　your
collections。〃

〃I　know；　but　we'rewe're　sorting　them　and　making　a　catalogue；〃
defended　the　man；　anxiously。　　〃Besides；　II　like　to　have　her
there。　　She　doesn't　bother　me　a　bit。〃

〃No；　I　know　she　doesn't；〃　replied　Aunt　Hannah；　with　a　curious
inflection。　　〃But　don't　you　see；　William；　that　all　this　isn't　going
to　quite　do？　　Billy's　too　youngand　too　old。〃

〃Come；　come；　Aunt　Hannah；　is　that　exactly　logical？〃

〃It's　true；　at　least。〃

〃But；　after　all；　where's　the　harm？　　Don't　you　think　that　you　are
just　a　little　bit　toofastidious？　　Billy's　nothing　but　a　care…free
child。〃

〃It's　the　'free'　part　that　I　object　to；　William。　　She　has　taken
every　one　of　you　into　intimate　companionshipeven　Pete　and　Dong
Ling。〃

〃Pete　and　Dong　Ling！〃

〃Yes。〃　　Mrs。　Stetson's　chin　came　up；　and　her　nostrils　dilated　a
little。　　〃Billy　went　to　Pete　the　other　day　to　have　him　button　her
shirt…waist　up　in　the　back；　and　yesterday　I　found　her　down…stairs
in　the　kitchen　instructing　Dong　Ling　how　to　make　chocolate　fudge！〃

William　fell　back　in　his　chair。

〃Well；　well；〃　he　muttered；　〃well；　well！　　She　is　a　child；　and　no
mistake！〃　　He　paused；　his　brows　drawn　into　a　troubled　frown。　　〃But；
Aunt　Hannah；　what　CAN　I　do？　　Of　course　you　could　talk　to　her；　but
I　don't　seem　to　quite　like　that　idea。〃

〃My　grief　and　conscienceno；　no！　　That　isn't　what　is　needed　at
all。　　It　would　only　serve　to　make　her　self…conscious；　and　that's
her　one　salvation　nowthat　she　isn't　self…conscious。　　You　see；
it's　only　the　fault　of　her　environment　and　training；　after　all。　　It
isn't　her　heart　that's　wrong。〃

〃Indeed　it　isn't！〃

〃It　will　be　different　when　she　is　olderwhen　she　has　seen　a　little
more　of　the　world　outside　Hampden　Falls。　　She'll　go　to　school；　of
course；　and　I　think　she　ought　to　travel　a　little。　　Meanwhile；　she
mustn't　livejust　like　this；　though；　certainly　not　for　a　time；　at
least。〃

〃No；　no；　I'm　afraid　not；〃　agreed　William；　perplexedly；　rising　to
his　feet。　　〃But　we　must　thinkwhat　can　be　done。〃　　His　step　was
even　slower　than　usual　as　he　left　the　room；　and　his　eyes　were
troubled。



CHAPTER　XV

WHAT　BERTRAM　CALLS　〃THE　LIMIT〃


At　half　past　ten　o'clock　on　the　evening　following　Mrs。　Stetson's
very　plain　talk　with　William；　the　telephone　bell　at　the　Beacon
Street　house　rang　sharply。　　Pete　answered　it。

〃Well？〃Pete　never　said　〃hello。〃

〃Hello。　　Is　that　you；　Pete？〃　called　Billy's　voice　agitatedly。　　〃Is
Uncle　William　there？〃

〃No；　Miss　Billy。〃

〃Oh　dear！　　Well；　Mr。　Cyril；　then？〃

〃He's　out；　too；　Miss　Billy。　　And　Mr。　Bertramthey're　all　out。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　HE'S　out；〃　almost　sobbed　Billy。　　〃Dear；　dear；
what　shall　I　do！　　Pete；　you'll　have　to　come。　　There　isn't　any　other
way！〃

〃Yes；　Miss；　where？〃　　Pete's　voice　was　dubious；　but　respectful。

〃To　the　Boylston　Street　subwayon　the　Common；　you　knowNorth…
bound　side。　　I'll　wait　for　youbut　HURRY！　　You　see；　I'm　all　alone
here。〃

〃Alone！　　Miss　Billyin　the　subway　at　this　time　of　night！　　But；
Miss　Billy；　you　shouldn'tyou　can'tyou　mustn't〃stuttered　the
old　man　in　helpless　horror。

〃Yes；　yes；　Pete；　but　never　mind；　I　am　here！　　And　I　should　think　if
'twas　such　a　dreadful　thing　you　would　hurry　FAST　to　get　here；　so　I
wouldn't　be　alone；〃　appealed　Billy。

With　an　inarticulate　cry　Pete　jerked　the　receiver　on　to　the　hook；
and　stumbled　away　from　the　telephone。　　Five　minutes　later　he　had
left　the　house　and　was　hurrying　through　the　Common　to　the　Boylston
Street　subway　station。

Billy；　a　long　cloak　thrown　over　her　white　dress；　was　waiting　for
him。　　Her　white　slippers　tapped　the　platform　nervously；　and　her
hair；　under　the　light　scarf　of　lace；　fluffed　into　little　broken
curls　as　if　it　had　been　blown　by　the　wind。

〃Miss　Billy；　Miss　Billy；　what　can　this　mean？〃　gasped　the　man。
〃Where　is　Mrs。　Stetson？〃

〃At　Mrs。　Hartwell'syou　know　she　is　giving　a　reception　to…night。
But　come；　we　must　hurry！　　I'm　after　Mr。　Bertram。〃

〃After　Mr。　Bertram！〃

〃Yes；　yes。〃

〃Alone？like　this？〃

〃But　I'm　not　alone　now；　I　have　you。　　Don't　you　see？〃

At　the　blank　stupefaction　in　the　man's　face；　the　girl　sighed
impatiently。

〃Dear　me！　　I　suppose　I'll　have　to　explain；　but　we're　losing　time
and　we　mustn'twe　mustn't！〃　she　cried　feverishly。　　〃Listen　then；
quick。　　It　was　at　Mrs。　Hartwell's　tonight。　　I'd　been　watching　Mr。
Bertram。　　He　was　with　that　horrid　Mr。　Seaver；　and　I　never　liked
him；　never！　　I　overheard　something　they　said；　about　some　place　they
were　going　to；　and　I　didn't　like　what　Mr。　Seaver　said。　　I　tried　to
speak　to　Mr。　Bertram；　but　I　didn't　get　a　chance；　and　the　next　thing
I　knew　he'd　gone　with　that　Seaver　man！　　I　saw　them　just　in　time　to
snatch　my　cloak　and　follow　them。〃

〃FOLLOW　them！　　MISS　BILLY！〃

〃I　had　to；　Pete；　don't　you　see？　　There　was　no　one　else。　　Mr。　Cyril
and　Uncle　William　had　gonehome；　I　supposed。　　I　sent　back　word　by
the　maid　to　Aunt　Hannah　that　I'd　gone　ahead；　you　know　the　carriage
was　ordered　for　eleven；　but　I'm　afraid　she　won't　have　sense　to　tell
Aunt　Hannah；　she　looked　so　dazed　and　frightened　when　I　told　her。
But　I　COULDN'T　wait　to　say　more。　　Well；　I　hurried　out　and　caught　up
with　Mr。　Bertram　just　as　they　were　crossing　Arlington　Street　to　the
Garden。　　I'd　heard　them　say　they　were　going　to　walk；　so　I　knew　I
could　do　it。　　But；　Pete；　after　I　got　there；　I　didn't　dare　to　speak
I　didn't　DARE　to！　　So　I　justfollowed。　　They　went　straight
through　the　Garden　and　across　the　Common　to　Tremont　Street；　and　on
and　on　until　they　stopped　and　went　down　some　stairs；　all　marble　and
lights　and　mirrors。　　'Twas　a　restaurant；　I　think。　　I　saw　just　where
it　was；　then　I　flew　back　here　to　telephone　for　Uncle　William。　　I
knew　HE　could　do　something。　　Butwell；　you　know　the　rest。　　I　had
to　take　you。　　Now　come；　quick；　I'll　show　you。〃

〃But；　Miss　Billy；　I　can't！　　You　mustn't；　it's　impossible；〃
chattered　old　Pete。　　〃Come；　let　me　take　ye　home；　Miss　Billy；　do！〃

〃Homeand　leave　Mr。　Bertram　with　that　Seaver　man？　　No；　no！〃

〃What　CAN　ye　do？〃

〃Do？　　I　can　get　him　to　come　home　with　me；　of　course。〃

The　old　man　made　a　despairing　gesture　and　looked　about　him　as　if
for　help。　　He　saw　then　the　curious；　questioning　eyes　on　all　sides；
and　with　a　quick　change　of　manner；　he　touched　Miss　Billy's　arm。

〃Yes；　we'll　go。　　Come；〃　he　apparently　agreed。　　But　once　outside　on
the　broad　expanse　before　the　Subway　entrance　he　stopped　again。
〃Miss　Billy；　please　come　home；〃　he　implored。　　〃Ye　don't　knowye
can't　know　what　yer　a…doin'！〃

The　girl　tossed　her　head。　　She　was　angry　now。

〃Pete；　if　you　will　not　go　with　me　I　shall　go　alone。　　I　am　not
afraid。〃

〃But　the　hourthe　placeyou；　a　young　girl！　　Miss　Billy！〃
remonstrated　the　old　man　agitatedly。

〃It　isn't　so　very　late。　　I've　been　out　lots　of　times　later　than
this　at　home。　　And　as　for　the　place；　it's　all　light　and　bright；　and
lots　of　people　were　going　inladies　and　gentlemen。　　Nothing　could
hurt　me；　Pete；　and　I　shall　go；　but　I'd　rather　you　were　with　me。
Why；　Pete；　we　mustn't　leave　him。　　He　isn'the　isn't　HIMSELF；　Pete。
Hehe's　been　DRINKING！〃　　Billy's　voice　broke；　and　her　face　flushed
scarlet。　　She　was　almost　crying。　　〃Come；　you　won't　refuse　now！〃　she
finished；　resolutely　turning　toward　the　street