miss billy-第6节

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〃Oh；　very　well；　if　you　really　want　it　broken　gently；　it's　this：
Will　has　met　Billy；　and　Billy　is　a　girl。　　They're　due　here　now
'most　any　time。〃

The　music　stopped　with　a　crash。

〃AGIRL！〃

〃Yes；　a　girl。　　Oh；　I've　been　all　through　that；　and　I　know　how　you
feel。　　But　as　near　as　I　can　make　out；　it's　really　so。　　I've　had
instructions　to　tell　everybody；　and　I've　told。　　I　got　Kate　on　the
telephone；　and　she's　coming　over。　　You　KNOW　what　SHE'LL　be。　　Dong
Ling　is　having　what　I　suppose　are　Chinese　hysterics　in　the　kitchen；
and　Pete　is　swinging　back　and　forth　like　a　pendulum　in　the　dining…
room；　moaning　'Good　Lord；　deliver　us！'　at　every　breath。　　I　would
suggest　that　you　follow　me　down…stairs　so　that　we　may　be　decently
ready　forwhatever　comes。〃　　And　he　turned　about　and　stalked　out　of
the　room；　followed　by　Cyril；　who　was　too　stunned　to　open　his　lips。

Kate　came　first。　　She　was　not　stunned。　　She　had　a　great　deal　to
say。

〃Really；　this　is　a　little　the　most　absurd　thing　I　ever　heard　of；〃
she　fumed。　　〃What　in　the　world　does　your　brother　mean？〃

That　she　quite　ignored　her　own　relationship　to　the　culprit　was　not
lost　on　Bertram。　　He　made　instant　response。

〃As　near　as　I　can　make　out；〃　he　replied　smoothly；　〃YOUR　brother　has
fallen　under　the　sway　of　a　pair　of　great　dark　eyes；　two　pink
cheeks；　and　an　unknown　quantity　of　curly　hair；　all　of　which　in　its
entirety　is　his　namesake；　is　lonesome；　and　is　in　need　of　a　home。〃

〃But　she　can't　livehere！〃

〃Will　says　she　shall。〃

〃But　that　is　utter　nonsense；〃　cut　in　Cyril。

〃For　once　I　agree　with　you；　Cyril；〃　laughed　Bertram；　〃but　William
doesn't。〃

〃But　how　can　she　do　it？〃　demanded　Kate。

〃Don't　know；〃　answered　Bertram。　　〃He's　established　a　petticoat
propriety　in　you　for　a　few　hours；　at　least。　　Meanwhile；　he's　going
to　think。　　At　least；　he　says　he　is；　and　that　we've　got　to　help
him。〃

〃Humph！〃　snapped　Kate。　　〃Well；　I　can　prophesy　we　sha'n't　think
alikeso　you'd　notice　it！〃

〃I　know　that；〃　nodded　Bertram；　〃and　I'm　with　you　and　Cyril　on　this。
The　whole　thing　is　absurd。　　The　idea　of　thrusting　a　silly；
eighteen…year…old　girl　here　into　our　lives　in　this　fashion！　　But
you　know　what　Will　is　when　he's　really　roused。　　You　might　as　well
try　to　move　a　nice　good…natured　mountain　by　saying　'please；'　as　to
try　to　stir　him　under　certain　circumstances。　　Most　of　the　time；
I'll　own；　we　can　twist　him　around　our　little　fingers。　　But　not　now。
You'll　see。　　In　the　first　place；　she's　the　daughter　of　his　dead
friend；　and　she　DID　write　a　pathetic　little　letter。　　It　got　to　the
inside　of　me；　anyhow；　when　I　thought　she　was　a　boy。〃

〃A　boy！　　Who　wouldn't　think　she　was　a　boy？〃　interposed　Cyril。
〃'Billy；'　indeed！　　Can　you　tell　me　what　for　any　sane　man　should
have　named　a　girl　'Billy'？〃

〃For　William；　your　brother；　evidently；〃　retorted　Bertram；　dryly。
〃Anyhow；　he　did　it；　and　of　course　our　mistake　was　a　very　natural
one。　　The　dickens　of　it　is　now　that　we've　got　to　keep　it　from　her；
so　Will　says；　and　howhush！　here　they　are；〃　he　broke　off；　as　there
came　the　sound　of　wheels　stopping　before　the　house。

There　followed　the　click　of　a　key　in　the　lock　and　the　opening　of　a
heavy　door；　then；　full　in　the　glare　of　the　electric　lights　stood　a
plainly　nervous　man；　and　a　girl　with　startled；　appealing　eyes。

〃My　dear；〃　stammered　William；　〃this　is　my　sister；　Kate；　Mrs。
Hartwell；　and　here　are　Cyril　and　Bertram；　whom　I've　told　you　of。
And　of　course　I　don't　need　to　say　to　them　that　you　are　Billy。〃

It　was　over。　　William　drew　a　long　breath；　and　gave　an　agonized　look
into　his　brothers'　eyes。　　Then　Billy　turned　from　Mrs。　Hartwell　and
held　out　a　cordial　hand　to　each　of　the　men　in　turn。

〃Oh；　you　don't　know　how　lovely　this　isto　me；〃　she　cried　softly。
〃And　to　think　that　you　were　willing　I　should　come！〃　　The　two
younger　men　caught　their　breath　sharply；　and　tried　not　to　see　each
other's　eyes。　　〃You　look　so　goodall　of　you；　and　I　don't　believe
there's　one　of　you　that's　got　nerves　or　a　heart；〃　she　laughed。

Bertram　rallied　his　wits　to　respond　to　the　challenge。

〃No　heart；　Miss　Billy？　　Now　isn't　that　just　a　bit　hard　on　usright
at　first？〃

〃Not　a　mite；　if　you　take　it　the　way　I　mean　it；〃　dimpled　Billy。
〃Hearts　that　are　all　right　just　keep　on　pumping；　and　you　never　know
they　are　there。　　They　aren't　worth　mentioning。　　It's　the　other
kindthe　kind　that　flutters　at　the　least　noise　and　jumps　at　the
least　bang！　　And　I　don't　believe　any　of　you　mind　noises　and　bangs；〃
she　finished　merrily；　as　she　handed　her　hat　and　coat　to　Mrs。
Hartwell；　who　was　waiting　to　receive　them。

Bertram　laughed。　　Cyril　scowled；　and　occupied　himself　in　finding　a
chair。　　William　had　already　dropped　himself　wearily　on　to　the　sofa
near　his　sister。　　Billy　still　continued　to　talk。

〃Now　when　Spunk　and　I　get　to　trainingoh；　and　you　haven't　seen
Spunk！〃　she　interrupted　herself　suddenly。　　〃Why；　the　introductions
aren't　half　over。　　Where　is　he；　Uncle　Williamthe　basket？〃

〃II　put　it　inin　the　hall；〃　mumbled　William；　starting　to　rise。

〃No；　no；　I'll　get　him；〃　cried　Billy；　hurrying　from　the　room。　　She
returned　in　a　moment；　the　green　covered　basket　in　her　hand。　　〃He's
been　asleep；　I　guess。　　He's　slept　'most　all　the　way　down；　anyhow。
He's　so　used　to　being　toted　'round　in　this　basket　that　he　doesn't
mind　it　a　bit。　　I　take　him　everywhere　in　it　at　the　Falls。〃

There　was　an　electric　pause。　　Four　pairs　of　startled；　questioning；
fearful　eyes　were　on　the　basket　while　Billy　fumbled　at　the　knot　of
the　string。　　The　next　moment；　with　a　triumphant　flourish；　Billy
lifted　from　the　basket　and　placed　on　the　floor　a　very　small　gray
kitten　with　a　very　large　pink　bow。

〃There；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　may　I　present　to　you；　Spunk。〃

The　tiny　creature　winked　and　blinked；　and　balanced　for　a　moment　on
sleepy　legs；　then　at　the　uncontrollable　shout　that　burst　from
Bertram's　throat；　he　faced　the　man；　humped　his　tiny　back；　bristled
his　diminutive　tail　to　almost　unbelievable　fluffiness；　and　spit
wrathfully。

〃And　so　that　is　Spunk！〃　choked　Bertram。

〃Yes；〃　said　Billy。　　〃This　is　Spunk。〃



CHAPTER　VIII

THE　ROOMAND　BILLY


For　the　first　fifteen　minutes　after　Billy's　arrival　conversation
was　a　fitful　thing　made　up　mostly　of　a　merry　monologue　on　the　part
of　Billy　herself；　interspersed　with　somewhat　dazed　replies　from　one
after　another　of　her　auditors　as　she　talked　to　them　in　turn。　　No
one　thought　to　ask　if　she　cared　to　go　up　to　her　room；　and　during
the　entire　fifteen　minutes　Billy　sat　on　the　floor　with　Spunk　in　her
lap。　　She　was　still　there　when　the　funereal　face　of　Pete　appeared
in　the　doorway。　　Pete's　jaw　dropped。　　It　was　plain　that　only　the
sternest　self…control　enabled　him　to　announce　dinner；　with　anything
like　dignity。　　But　he　managed　to　stammer　out　the　words；　and　then
turn　loftily　away。　　Bertram；　who　sat　near　the　door；　however；　saw
him　raise　his　hands　in　horror　as　he　plunged　through　the　hall　and
down　the　stairway。

With　a　motion　to　Bertram　to　lead　the　way　with　Billy；　William
frenziedly　gripped　his　sister's　arm；　and　hissed　in　her　ear　for　all
the　world　like　a　villain　in　melodrama：

〃Listen！　　You'll　sleep　in　Bert's　room　to…night；　and　Bert　will　come
up…stairs　with　me。　　Get　Billy　to　bed　as　soon　as　you　can　after
dinner；　and　then　come　back　down　to　us。　　We've　got　to　plan　what's
got　to　be　done。　　Sh…h！〃　　And　he　dragged　his　sister　downstairs。

In　the　dining…room　there　was　a　slight　commotion。　　Billy　stood　at
her　chair　with　Spunk　in　her　arms。　　Before　her　Pete　was　standing；
dumbly　staring　into　her　eyes。　　At　last　he　stammered：

〃Ma'am？〃

〃A　chair；　please；　I　said；　for　Spunk；　you　know。　　Spunk　always　sits
at　the　table　right　next　to　me。〃

It　was　too　much　for　Bertram。　　He　fled　chokingly　to　the　hall。
William　dropped　weakly　into　his　own　place。　　Cyril　stared　as　had
Pete；　but　Mrs。　Hartwell　spoke。

〃You　don't　meanthat　that　cathas　a　chairat　the　table！〃　she
gasped。

〃Yes；　and　isn't　it　cute　of　him？〃　beamed　Billy；　entirely　misconstruing
the　surprise　in　the　lady's　voice。　　〃His　mother　always　sat　at　table
with　us；　and　behaved　beautifully；　too。　　Of　course　Spunk　is　little；
and　makes　mistakes　sometimes。　　But　he'll　learn。　Oh；　there's　a　chair
right　here；〃　she　added；　as　she　spied　Bertram's　childhood's
high…chair；　which　for　long　years　had　stood　unused　in　the　corner。
〃I'll　just　squeeze　it　right　in　here；〃　she　finished　gleefully；　making
room　for　the　chair　at　her　side。

When　Bertram；　a　little　red　of　face；　but　very　grave；　entered；　the
dining…room　a　moment　later；　he　found　the　family　seated　with　Spunk
snugly　placed　between　Billy　and　a　plainly　disgusted　and　dismayed
brother；　Cyril。　　The　kitten　was　alert　and　interested；　but　he　had
settled　back　in　his　chair；　and　was　looking　as　absurdly　dignified　as
the　flaring　pink　bow　would　let　him。

〃Isn't　he　a　dear？〃　Billy　was　saying。　　But　Bertram　noticed　that
there　was　no　reply　to　this　question。

It　was　a　peculiar　dinner…party。　　Only　Billy　did　not　feel　the
strain。　　Even　Spunk　was　not　entirely　happyhis　efforts　to
investigate　the　table　and　its　contents　were　too　frequently　curbed
by　his　mistress　for　his　unalloyed　satisfaction。　　William；　it　is
true；　made　a　valiant　attempt　to　cause　the　conversation　to　be
general；　but　he　failed　dismally。　　Kate　was　sternly　silent；　while
Cyril　was