miss billy-第21节

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Spunkie's　fat　neck；　and　once　more　Bertram　placed　his　latest　〃Face
of　a　Girl〃　in　the　best　possible　light。　　There　was　still　a
difference；　however；　for　this　time　Cyril　did　not　bring　any　music
down　to　the　piano；　nor　display　anywhere　a　copy　of　his　newest　book。

The　dinner　was　to　be　at　three　o'clock；　but　by　special　invitation
the　guests　were　to　arrive　at　twelve；　and　promptly　at　the　appointed
hour　they　came。

〃There；　this　is　something　like；〃　exulted　Bertram；　when　the　ladies；
divested　of　their　wraps；　toasted　their　feet　before　the　open　fire　in
his　den。

〃Indeed　it　is；　for　now　I've　time　to　see　everythingeverything
you've　done　since　I've　been　gone；〃　cried　Billy；　gazing　eagerly
about　her。

〃Hm…m；　well；　THAT　wasn't　what　I　meant；〃　shrugged　Bertram。

〃Of　course　not；　but　it's　what　I　meant；〃　retorted　Billy。　　〃And　there
are　other　things；　too。　　I　expect　there　are　half　a　dozen　new　'Old
Blues'　and　black　basalts　that　I　want　to　see；　eh；　Uncle　William？〃
she　finished；　smiling　into　the　eyes　of　the　man　who　had　been　gazing
at　her　with　doting　pride　for　the　last　five　minutes。

〃Ho！　　Will　isn't　on　teapots　now；〃　quoth　Bertram；　before　his　brother
had　a　chance　to　reply。　　〃You　might　dangle　the　oldest　'Old　Blue'
that　ever　was　before　him　now；　and　he'd　pay　scant　attention　if　he
happened　at　the　same　time　to　get　his　eyes　on　some　old　pewter　chain
with　a　green　stone　in　it。〃

Billy　laughed；　but　at　the　look　of　genuine　distress　that　came　into
William's　face；　she　sobered　at　once。

〃Don't　you　let　him　tease　you；　Uncle　William；〃　she　said　quickly。
〃I'm　sure　pewter　chains　with　green　stones　in　them　sound　just
awfully　interesting；　and　I　want　to　see　them　right　away　now。　　Come；〃
she　finished；　springing　to　her　feet；　〃take　me　up…stairs；　please；
and　show　them　to　me。〃

William　shook　his　head　and　said；　〃No；　no！〃　protesting　that　what　he
had　were　scarcely　worth　her　attention；　but　even　while　he　talked　he
rose　to　his　feet　and　advanced　half　eagerly；　half　reluctantly；
toward　the　door。

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Billy；　fondly；　as　she　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm。
〃I　know　they　are　very　much　worth　seeing。　　Come！〃　　And　she　led　the
way　from　the　room。　　〃Oh；　oh！〃　she　exclaimed　a　few　moments　later；　as
she　stood　before　a　small　cabinet　in　one　of　William's　rooms。　　〃Oh；
oh；　how　pretty！〃

〃Do　you　like　them？　　I　thought　you　would；〃　triumphed　William；　quick
joy　driving　away　the　anxious　fear　in　his　eyes。　　〃You　see；　II
thought　of　you　when　I　got　themevery　one　of　them。　　I　thought　you'd
like　them。　　But　I　haven't　very　many；　yet；　of　course。　　This　is　the
latest　one。〃　　And　he　tenderly　lifted　from　its　black　velvet　mat　a
curious　silver　necklace　made　of　small；　flat；　chain…linked　disks；
heavily　chased；　and　set　at　regular　intervals　with　a　strange；　blue…
green　stone。

Billy　hung　above　it　enraptured。

〃Oh；　what　a　beauty！　　And　this；　I　suppose；　is　Bertram's　'pewter
chain'！　　'Pewter；'　indeed！〃　she　scoffed。　　〃Tell　me；　Uncle　William；
where　did　you　get　it？〃

And　uncle　William　told；　happily；　thirstily；　drinking　in　Billy's
evident　interest　with　delight。　　There　were；　too；　a　quaintly…set
ring　and　a　cat's…eye　brooch；　and　to　each　belonged　a　story　which
William　was　equally　glad　to　tell。　　There　were　other　treasures；
also：　buckles；　rings；　brooches；　and　necklaces；　some　of　dull　gold；
some　of　equally　dull　silver；　but　all　of　odd　design　and　curious
workmanship；　studded　here　and　there　with　bits　of　red；　green；
yellow；　blue；　and　flame…colored　stones。　　Very　learnedly　then　from
William's　lips　fell　the　new　vocabulary　that　had　come　to　him　with
his　latest　treasures：　chrysoprase；　carnelian；　girasol；　onyx；
plasma；　sardonyx；　lapis　lazuli；　tourmaline；　chrysolite；　hyacinth；
and　carbuncle。

〃They　are　lovely；　perfectly　lovely！〃　breathed　Billy；　when　the　last
chain　had　slipped　through　her　fingers　into　William's　hand。　　〃I
think　they　are　the　very　nicest　things　you　ever　collected。〃

〃So　do　I；〃　agreed　the　man；　emphatically。　　〃And　they　aredifferent；
too。〃

〃They　are；〃　said　Billy；　〃verydifferent。〃　　But　she　was　not　looking
at　the　jewelry：　her　eyes　were　on　a　small　shell　hairpin　and　a　brown
silk　button　half　hidden　behind　a　Lowestoft　teapot。

On　the　way　down…stairs　William　stopped　a　moment　at　Billy's　old
rooms。

〃I　wish　you　were　here　now；〃　he　said　wistfully。　　〃They're　all　ready
for　youthese　rooms。〃

〃Oh；　but　why　don't　you　use　them？such　pretty　rooms！〃　cried　Billy；
quickly。

William　gave　a　gesture　of　dissent。

〃We　have　no　use　for　them；　besides；　they　belong　to　you　and　Aunt
Hannah。　　You　left　your　imprint　long　ago；　my　dearwe　should　not
feel　at　home　in　them。〃

〃Oh；　but　you　should！　　You　mustn't　feel　like　that！〃　objected　Billy；
hurriedly　crossing　the　room　to　the　window　to　hide　a　sudden
nervousness　that　had　assailed　her。　　〃And　here's　my　piano；　too；　and
open！〃　she　finished　gaily；　dropping　herself　upon　the　piano　stool
and　dashing　into　a　brilliant　mazourka。

Billy；　like　Cyril；　had　a　way　of　working　off　her　moods　at　her　finger
tips；　and　to…day　the　tripping　notes　and　crashing　chords　told　of　a
nervous　excitement　that　was　not　all　joy。　　From　the　doorway　William
watched　her　flying　fingers　with　fond　pride；　and　it　was　very
reluctantly　that　he　acceded　to　Pete's　request　to　go　down…stairs　for
a　moment　to　settle　a　vexed　question　concerning　the　table
decorations。

Billy；　left　alone；　still　played；　but　with　a　difference。　　The
tripping　notes　slowed　into　a　weird　melody　that　rose　and　fell　and
lost　itself　in　the　exquisite　harmony　that　had　been　born　of　the
crashing　chords。　　Billy　was　improvising　now；　and　into　her　music　had
crept　something　of　her　old…time　longing　when　she　had　come　to　that
house　a　lonely；　orphan　girl；　in　search　of　a　home。　　On　and　on　she
played；　then　with　a　discordant　note；　she　suddenly　rose　from　the
piano。　　She　was　thinking　of　Kate；　and　wondering　if；　had　Kate　not
〃managed〃　the　little　room　would　still　be　home。

So　swiftly　did　Billy　cross　to　the　door　that　the　man　on　the　stairs
outside　had　not　time　to　get　quite　out　of　sight。　　Billy　did　not　see
his　face；　however；　she　saw　only　a　pair　of　gray…trousered　legs
disappearing　around　the　curve　of　the　landing　above。　　She　thought
nothing　of　it　until　later　when　dinner　was　announced；　and　Cyril　came
down…stairs；　then　she　saw　that　he；　and　he　only；　that　afternoon　wore
trousers　of　that　particular　shade　of　gray。

The　dinner　was　a　great　success。　　Even　the　chocolate　fudge　in　the
little　cut　glass　bonbon　dishes　was　perfect；　and　it　was　a　question
whether　Pete　or　Dong　Ling　tried　the　harder　to　please。

After　dinner　the　family　gathered　in　the　drawing…room　and　chatted
pleasantly。　　Bertram　displayed　his　prettiest　and　newest　pictures；
and　Billy　played　and　sungbright；　tuneful　little　things　that　she
knew　Aunt　Hannah　and　Uncle　William　liked。　　If　Cyril　was　pleased　or
displeased；　he　did　not　show　itbut　Billy　had　ceased　to　play　for
Cyril's　ears。　　She　told　herself　that　she　did　not　care；　but　she　did
wonder：　was　that　Cyril　on　the　stairs；　and　if　sowhat　was　he　doing
there？



CHAPTER　XXVI

〃MUSIC　HATH　CHARMS〃


Two　days　after　Thanksgiving　Cyril　called　at　Hillside。

〃I've　come　to　hear　you　play；〃　he　announced　abruptly。

Billy's　heart　sung　within　herbut　her　temper　rose。　　Did　he　think
then　that　he　had　but　to　beckon　and　she　would　comeand　at　this　late
day；　she　asked　herself。　　Aloud　she　said：

〃Play？　　But　this　is　'so　sudden'！　　Besides；　you　have　heard　me。〃

The　man　made　a　disdainful　gesture。

〃Not　that。　　I　mean　playreally　play。　　Billy；　why　haven't　you
played　to　me　before？〃

Billy's　chin　rose　perceptibly。

〃Why　haven't　you　asked　me？〃　she　parried。

To　Billy's　surprise　the　man　answered　this　with　calm　directness。

〃Because　Calderwell　said　that　you　were　a　dandy　player；　and　I　don't
care　for　dandy　players。〃

Billy　laughed　now。

〃And　how　do　you　know　I'm　not　a　dandy　player；　Sir　Impertinent？〃　she
demanded。

〃Because　I've　heard　youwhen　you　weren't。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　murmured　Billy。

Cyril　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Oh；　you　know　very　well　what　I　mean；〃　he　defended。　　〃I've　heard
you；　that's　all。〃

〃When？〃

〃That　doesn't　signify。〃

Billy　was　silent　for　a　moment；　her　eyes　gravely　studying　his　face。
Then　she　asked：

〃Were　you　longon　that　stairway？〃

〃Eh？　　What？　　Oh！〃　　Cyril's　forehead　grew　suddenly　pink。　　〃Well？〃　he
finished　a　little　aggressively。

〃Oh；　nothing；〃　smiled　the　girl。　　〃Of　course　people　who　live　in
glass　houses　must　not　throw　stones。〃

〃Very　well　then；　I　did　listen；〃　acknowledged　the　man；　testily。　　〃I
liked　what　you　were　playing。　　I　hoped；　down…stairs　later；　that
you'd　play　it　again；　but　you　didn't。　　I　came　to…day　to　hear　it。〃

Again　Billy's　heart　sung　within　herbut　again　her　temper　rose；
too。

〃I　don't　think　I　feel　like　it；〃　she　said　sweetly；　with　a　shake　of
her　head。　　〃Not　to…day。〃

For　a　brief　moment　Cyril　stared　frowningly；　then　his　face　lighted
with　his　rare　smile。

〃I'm　fairly　checkmated；〃　he　said；　rising　to　his　feet　and　going
straight　to　the　piano。

For　long　minutes　he　played；　modulating　from　one　enchanting
composition　to　another；　and　finishing　with　the　one　〃all　chords　with
big　bass　notes〃　that　marched　on　and　onthe　one　Billy　had　sat　long
ago　on　the　stairs　to　hear。

〃There！　　Now　will　you　play　for　me？〃　he　asked；　rising　to　his　feet；
and　turning　reproachful　eyes　upon　her。

Billy；　too；　ros