miss billy-第24节

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better。〃

Bertram　lifted　his　head。　　Very　slowly　he　rose　till　his　splendid　six
feet　of　clean…limbed　strength　and　manly　beauty　towered　away　above
the　low　chair　in　which　Billy　sat。　　His　mouth　showed　new　lines　about
the　corners；　and　his　eyes　looked　down　very　tenderly　at　the　girl
beside　him；　but　his　voice；　when　he　spoke；　had　a　light　whimsicality
that　deceived　even　Billy's　ears。

〃And　so　it's　musica　cold；　senseless　thing　of　spidery　marks　on
clean　white　paperthat　is　my　only　rival；〃　he　cried。　　〃Then　I'll
warn　you；　Billy；　I'll　warn　you。　　I'm　going　to　win！〃　　And　with　that
he　was　gone。



CHAPTER　XXIX

〃I'M　NOT　GOING　TO　MARRY〃


Billy　did　not　know　whether　to　be　more　amazed　or　amused　at　Bertram's
proposal　of　marriage。　　She　was　vexed；　she　was　very　sure　of　that。
To　marry　Bertram？　　Absurd！　。　。　。　　Then　she　reflected　that；　after
all；　it　was　only　Bertram；　so　she　calmed　herself。

Still；　it　was　annoying。　　She　liked　Bertram；　she　had　always　liked
him。　　He　was　a　nice　boy；　and　a　most　congenial　companion。　　He　never
bored　her；　as　did　some　others；　and　he　was　always　thoughtful　of
cushions　and　footstools　and　cups　of　tea　when　one　was　tired。　　He
was；　in　fact；　an　ideal　friend；　just　the　sort　she　wanted；　and　it　was
such　a　pity　that　he　must　spoil　it　all　now　with　this　silly
sentimentality！　　And　of　course　he　had　spoiled　it　all。　　There　was　no
going　back　now　to　their　old　friendliness。　　He　would　be　morose　or
silly　by　turns；　according　to　whether　she　frowned　or　smiled；　or　else
he　would　take　himself　off　in　a　tragic　sort　of　way　that　was　very
disturbing。　　He　had　said；　to　be　sure；　that　he　would　〃win。〃　　Win；
indeed！　　As　if　she　could　marry　Bertram！　　When　she　married；　her
choice　would　fall　upon　a　man；　not　a　boy；　a　big；　grave；　earnest　man
to　whom　the　world　meant　something；　a　man　who　loved　music；　of
course；　a　man　who　would　single　her　out　from　all　the　world；　and　show
to　her；　and　to　her　only；　the　depth　and　tenderness　of　his　love；　a
man　whobut　she　was　not　going　to　marry；　anyway；　remembered　Billy；
suddenly。　　And　with　that　she　began　to　cry。　　The　whole　thing　was　so
〃tiresome；〃　she　declared；　and　so　〃absurd。〃

Billy　rather　dreaded　her　next　meeting　with　Bertram。　　She　feared
she　knew　not　what。　　But；　as　it　turned　out；　she　need　not　have　feared
anything；　for　he　met　her　tranquilly；　cheerfully；　as　usual；　and　he
did　nothing　and　said　nothing　that　he　might　not　have　done　and　said
before　that　twilight　chat　took　place。

Billy　was　relieved。　　She　concluded　that；　after　all；　Bertram　was
going　to　be　sensible。　　She　decided　that　she；　too；　would　be
sensible。　　She　would　accept　him　on　this；　his　chosen　plane；　and　she
would　think　no　more　of　his　〃nonsense。〃

Billy　threw　herself　then　even　more　enthusiastically　into　her
beloved　work。　　She　told　Marie　that　after　all　was　said　and　done；
there　could　not　be　any　man　that　would　tip　the　scales　one　inch　with
music　on　the　other　side。　　She　was　a　little　hurt；　it　is　true；　when
Marie　only　laughed　and　answered：

〃But　what　if　the　man　and　the　music　both　happen　to　be　on　the　same
side；　my　dear；　what　then？〃

Marie's　voice　was　wistful；　in　spite　of　the　laughso　wistful　that
it　reminded　Billy　of　their　conversation　a　few　weeks　before。

〃But　it　is　you；　Marie；　who　want　the　stockings　to　darn　and　the
puddings　to　make；〃　she　retorted　playfully。　　〃Not　I！　　And；　do　you
know？　　I　believe　I　shall　turn　matchmaker　yet；　and　find　you　a　man；
and　the　chiefest　of　his　qualifications　shall　be　that　he's
wretchedly　hard　on　his　hose；　and　that　he　adores　puddings。〃

〃No；　no；　Miss　Billy；　don't；　please！〃　begged　the　other；　in　quick
terror。　　〃Forget　all　I　said　the　other　day；　please　do！　　Don't　tell
anybody！〃

She　was　so　obviously　distressed　and　frightened　that　Billy　was
puzzled。

〃There；　there；　'twas　only　a　jest；　of　course；〃　she　soothed　her。
〃But；　really　Marie；　it　is　the　dear；　domestic　little　mouse　like
yourself　that　ought　to　be　somebody's　wifeand　that's　the　kind　men
are　looking　for；　too。〃

Marie　gave　a　slow　shake　of　her　head。

〃Not　the　kind　of　man　that　is　somebody；　that　does　something；〃　she
objected；　〃and　that's　the　only　kind　I　couldlove。　　HE　wants　a　wife
that　is　beautiful　and　clever；　that　can　do　things　like　himselfLIKE
HIMSELF！〃　she　iterated　feverishly。

Billy　opened　wide　her　eyes。

〃Why；　Marie；　one　would　thinkyou　already　knewsuch　a　man；〃　she
cried。

The　little　music　teacher　changed　her　position；　and　turned　her　eyes
away。

〃I　do；　of　course；〃　she　retorted　in　a　merry　voice；　〃lots　of　them。
Don't　you？　　Come；　we've　discussed　my　matrimonial　prospects　quite
long　enough；〃　she　went　on　lightly。　　〃You　know　we　started　with
yours。　　Suppose　we　go　back　to　those。〃

〃But　I　haven't　any；〃　demurred　Billy；　as　she　turned　with　a　smile　to
greet　Aunt　Hannah；　who　had　just　entered　the　room。　　〃I'm　not　going
to　marry；　am　I；　Aunt　Hannah？〃

〃Erwhat？　　Marry？　　My　grief　and　conscience；　what　a　question；
Billy！　　Of　course　you're　going　to　marrywhen　the　time　comes！〃
exclaimed　Aunt　Hannah。

Billy　laughed　and　shook　her　head　vigorously。　　But　even　as　she
opened　her　lips　to　reply；　Rosa　appeared　and　announced　that　Mr。
Calderwell　was　waiting　down…stairs。　　Billy　was　angry　then；　for
after　the　maid　was　gone；　the　merriment　in　Aunt　Hannah's　laugh　only
matched　that　in　Marie'sand　the　intonation　was　unmistakable。

〃Well；　I'm　not！〃　declared　Billy　with　pink　cheeks　and　much
indignation；　as　she　left　the　room。　　And　as　if　to　convince　herself；
Marie；　Aunt　Hannah；　and　all　the　world　that　such　was　the　case；　she
refused　Calderwell　so　decidedly　that　night　when　he；　for　the　half…
dozenth　time；　laid　his　hand　and　heart　at　her　feet；　that　even
Calderwell　himself　was　convincedso　far　as　his　own　case　was
concernedand　left　town　the　next　day。

Bertram　told　Aunt　Hannah　afterward　that　he　understood　Mr。　Calderwell
had　gone　to　parts　unknown。　　To　himself　Bertram　shamelessly　owned
that　the　more　〃unknown〃　they　were；　the　better　he　himself　would　be
pleased。



CHAPTER　XXX

MARIE　FINDS　A　FRIEND


It　was　on　a　very　cold　January　afternoon；　and　Cyril　was　hurrying　up
the　hill　toward　Billy's　house；　when　he　was　startled　to　see　a
slender　young　woman　sitting　on　a　curbstone　with　her　head　against　an
electric…light　post。　　He　stopped　abruptly。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　butwhy；　Miss　Hawthorn！　　It　is　Miss　Hawthorn；
isn't　it？〃

Under　his　questioning　eyes　the　girl's　pale　face　became　so　painfully
scarlet　that　in　sheer　pity　the　man　turned　his　eyes　away。　　He
thought　he　had　seen　women　blush　before；　but　he　decided　now　that　he
had　not。

〃I'm　surehaven't　I　met　you　at　Miss　Neilson's？　　Are　you　ill？
Can't　I　do　something　for　you？〃　he　begged。

〃Yesnothat　is；　I　AM　Miss　Hawthorn；　and　I've　met　you　at　Miss
Neilson's；〃　stammered　the　girl；　faintly。　　〃But　there　isn't
anything；　thank　you；　that　you　can　doMr。　Henshaw。　　I　stopped　to
rest。〃

The　man　frowned。

〃But；　surelypardon　me；　Miss　Hawthorn；　but　I　can't　think　it　your
usual　custom　to　choose　an　icy　curbstone　for　a　resting　place；　with
the　thermometer　down　to　zero。　　You　must　be　ill。　　Let　me　take　you　to
Miss　Neilson's。〃

〃No；　no；　thank　you；〃　cried　the　girl；　struggling　to　her　feet；　the
vivid　red　again　flooding　her　face。　　〃I　have　a　lessonto　give。〃

〃Nonsense！　　You're　not　fit　to　give　a　lesson。　　Besides；　they　are　all
folderol；　anyway；　half　of　them。　　A　dozen　lessons；　more　or　less；
won't　make　any　difference；　they'll　play　just　as　welland　just　as
atrociously。　　Come；　I　insist　upon　taking　you　to　Miss　Neilson's。〃

〃No；　no；　thank　you！　　I　really　mustn't。　　I〃　　She　could　say　no
more。　　A　strong；　yet　very　gentle　hand　had　taken　firm　hold　of　her
arm　in　such　a　way　as　half　to　support　her。　　A　force　quite　outside　of
herself　was　carrying　her　forward　step　by　stepand　Miss　Hawthorn
was　not　used　to　strong；　gentle　hands；　nor　yet　to　a　force　quite
outside　of　herself。　　Neither　was　she　accustomed　to　walk　arm　in　arm
with　Mr。　Cyril　Henshaw　to　Miss　Billy's　door。　　When　she　reached
there　her　cheeks　were　like　red　roses　for　color；　and　her　eyes　were
like　the　stars　for　brightness。　　Yet　a　minute　later；　confronted　by
Miss　Billy's　astonished　eyes；　the　stars　and　the　roses　fled；　and　a
very　white…faced　girl　fell　over　in　a　deathlike　faint　in　Cyril
Henshaw's　arms。

Marie　was　put　to　bed　in　the　little　room　next　to　Billy's；　and　was
peremptorily　hushed　when　faint　remonstrance　was　made。　　The　next
morning；　white…faced　and　wide…eyed；　she　resolutely　pulled　herself
half　upright；　and　announced　that　she　was　all　well　and　must　go　home
home　to　Marie　was　a　six…by…nine　hall　bed…room　in　a　South　End
lodging　house。

Very　gently　Billy　pushed　her　back　on　the　pillow　and　laid　a
detaining　hand　on　her　arm。

〃No；　dear。　　Now；　please　be　sensible　and　listen　to　reason。　　You　are
my　guest。　　You　did　not　know　it；　perhaps；　for　I'm　afraid　the
invitation　got　a　little　delayed。　　But　you're　to　stayoh；　lots　of
weeks。〃

〃Istay　here？　　Why；　I　can'tindeed；　I　can't；〃　protested　Marie。

〃But　that　isn't　a　bit　of　a　nice　way　to　accept　an　invitation；〃
disapproved　Billy。　　〃You　should　say；　'Thank　you；　I'd　be　delighted；
I'm　sure；　and　I'll　stay。'〃

In　spite　of　herself　the　little　music　teacher　laughed；　and　in　the
laugh　her　tense　muscles　relaxed。

〃Miss　Billy；　Miss　Billy；　what　is　one　to　do　with　you？　　Surely　you
knowyou　must　know　that　I　can't　do　what　you　ask！〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　see　why　not；〃　argued　B