miss billy-第17节

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！





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；〃　Bertram　reminded
her。

〃It　is；〃　nodded　Billy。

〃And　it　hasn't　changed　a　mite；　except　to　grow　better。　　You'll　see
to…morrow。〃

〃As　if　I　hadn't　been　counting　the　days！〃　she　exulted。　　〃And　now
what　have　you　been　doingall　of　you？〃

〃Just　wait　till　you　see；〃　laughed　Bertram。　〃They're　all　spread　out
for　your　inspection。〃

〃A　new　'Face　of　a　Girl'？〃

〃Of　courseyards　of　them！〃

〃And　heaps　of　'Old　Blues'　and　'black　basalts'？〃　she　questioned；
turning　to　William。

〃Well；　afew；〃　hesitated　William；　modestly。

〃Andthe　music；　what　of　that？〃　Billy　looked　now　at　Cyril。

〃You'll　see；〃　he　shrugged。　　〃There's　very　little；　after　allof
anything。〃

Billy　gave　a　wise　shake　of　her　head。

〃I　know　better；　and　I　want　to　see　it　all　so　much。　　We've　talked　and
talked　of　it；　haven't　we；　Aunt　Hannah？of　what　we　would　do　when　we
got　to　Boston？〃

〃Yes；　my　dear；　YOU　have。〃

The　girl　laughed。

〃I　accept　the　amendment；〃　she　retorted　with　mock　submission。　　〃I
suppose　it　is　always　I　who　talk。〃

〃It　waswhen　I　painted　you；〃　teased　Bertram。　　〃By　the　way；　I'll
LET　you　talk　if　you'll　pose　again　for　me；〃　he　finished　eagerly。

Billy　uptilted　her　nose。

〃Do　you　think；　sir；　you　deserve　it；　after　that　speech？〃　she
demanded。

〃But　how　about　YOUR　artyour　music？〃　entreated　William。　　〃You　have
said　so　little　of　that　in　your　letters。〃

Billy　hesitated。　　For　a　brief　moment　she　glanced　at　Cyril。　　He　did
not　appear　to　have　heard　his　brother's　question。　　He　was　talking
with　Aunt　Hannah。

〃Oh；　I　playsome；〃　murmured　the　girl；　almost　evasively。　　〃But　tell
me　of　yourself；　Uncle　William；　and　of　what　you　are　doing。〃　　And
William　needed　no　second　bidding。

It　was　some　time　later　that　Billy　turned　to　him　with　an　amazed
exclamation　in　response　to　something　he　had　said。

〃Home　with　you！　　Why；　Uncle　William；　what　do　you　mean？　　You　didn't
really　think　you'd　got　to　be　troubled　with　ME　any　longer！〃　she
cried　merrily。

William's　face　paled；　then　flushed。

〃I　did　not　call　it　'trouble；'　Billy；〃　he　said　quietly。　　His　grieved
eyes　looked　straight　into　hers　and　drove　the　merriment　quite　away。

〃Oh；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　she　said　gently。　　〃And　I　appreciate　your
kindness；　indeed　I　do；　but　I　couldn'treally　I　couldn't　think　of
such　a　thing！〃

〃And　you　don't　have　to　think　of　it；〃　cut　in　Bertram；　who　considered
that　the　situation　was　becoming　much　too　serious。　　〃All　you　have　to
do　is　to　come。〃

Billy　shook　her　head。

〃You　are　so　good；　all　of　you！　　But　you　didn'tyou　really　didn't
think　I　WAScoming！〃　she　protested。

〃Indeed　we　did；〃　asserted　Bertram；　promptly；　〃and　we　have　done
everything　to　get　ready　for　you；　too；　even　to　rigging　up　Spunkie　to
masquerade　as　Spunk。　　I'll　warrant　that　Pete's　nose　is　already
flattened　against　the　window…pane；　lest　we　should　HAPPEN　to　come
to…night；　and　there's　no　telling　how　many　cakes　of　chocolate　Dong
Ling　has　spoiled　by　this　time。　　We　left　him　trying　to　make　fudge；
you　know。〃

Billy　laughedbut　she　cried；　too；　at　least；　her　eyes　grew　suddenly
moist。　　Bertram　tried　to　decide　afterward　whether　she　lau