miss billy-第15章

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and　the　low　sewing…chair。　　With　a　great　display　of　a　〃getting　back
home〃　air；　Bertram　moved　many　of　his　belongings　upstairsbut
inside　of　a　week　he　had　moved　them　down　again；　saying　that；　after
all；　he　believed　he　liked　the　first　floor　better。　　Billy's　rooms
were　closed　then；　and　remained　as　they　had　for　yearssilent　and
deserted。

Billy　with　Aunt　Hannah　had　gone　directly　to　their　Back　Bay　hotel。
〃This　is　for　just　while　I'm　house…hunting；〃　the　girl　had　said。　　But
very　soon　she　had　decided　to　go　to　Hampden　Falls　for　the　summer　and
postpone　her　house…buying　until　the　autumn。　　Billy　was　twenty…one
now；　and　there　were　many　matters　of　business　to　arrange　with　Lawyer
Harding；　concerning　her　inheritance。　　It　was　not　until　September；
therefore；　when　Billy　once　more　returned　to　Boston；　that　the
Henshaw　brothers　had　the　opportunity　of　renewing　their　acquaintance
with　William's　namesake。

〃I　want　a　home；〃　Billy　said　to　Bertram　and　William　on　the　night　of
her　arrival。　　（As　before；　Mrs。　Stetson　and　Billy　had　gone　directly
to　a　hotel。）　　〃I　want　a　real　home　with　a　furnace　to　shakeif　I
want　toand　some　dirt　to　dig　in。〃

〃Well；　I'm　sure　that　ought　to　be　easy　to　find；〃　smiled　Bertram。

〃Oh；　but　that　isn't　all；〃　supplemented　Billy。　　〃It　must　be　mostly
closets　and　piazza。　　At　least；　those　are　the　important　things。〃

〃Well；　you　might　run　across　a　snag　there。　　Why　don't　you　build？〃

Billy　gave　a　gesture　of　dissent。

〃Too　slow。　　I　want　it　now。〃

Bertram　laughed。　　His　eyes　narrowed　quizzically。

〃From　what　Calderwell　says；〃　he　bantered；　〃I　should　judge　that
there　are　plenty　of　sighing　swains　who　are　only　too　ready　to　give
you　a　homeand　now。〃

The　pink　deepened　in　Billy's　cheeks。

〃I　said　closets　and　a　piazza；　dirt　to　dig；　and　a　furnace　to　shake；〃
she　retorted　merrily。　　〃I　didn't　say　I　wanted　a　husband。〃

〃And　you　don't；　of　course；〃　interposed　William；　decidedly。　　〃You
are　much　too　young　for　that。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　agreed　Billy　demurely；　but　Bertram　was　sure　he　saw　a
twinkle　under　the　downcast　lashes。

〃And　where　is　Cyril？〃　asked　Mrs。　Stetson；　coming　into　the　room　at
that　moment。

William　stirred　restlessly。

〃Well；　Cyril　couldn'tcouldn't　come；〃　stammered　William　with　an
uneasy　glance　at　his　brother。

Billy　laughed　unexpectedly。

〃It's　too　badabout　Mr。　Cyril's　not　coming；〃　she　murmured。　　And
again　Bertram　caught　the　twinkle　in　the　downcast　eyes。

To　Bertram　the　twinkle　looked　interesting；　and　worth　pursuit；　but
at　the　very　beginning　of　the　chase　Calderwell's　card　came　up；　and
that　endedeverything；　so　Bertram　declared　crossly　to　himself。

Billy　found　her　dirt　to　dig　in；　and　her　furnace　to　shake；　in
Brookline。　　There　were　closets；　too；　and　a　generous　expanse　of
veranda。　　They　all　belonged　to　a　quaint　little　house　perched　on　the
side　of　Corey　Hill。　　From　the　veranda　in　the　rear；　and　from　many　of
the　windows；　one　looked　out　upon　a　delightful　view　of　many…hued；
many…shaped　roofs　nestling　among　towering　trees；　with　the　wide
sweep　of　the　sky　above；　and　the　haze　of　faraway　hills　at　the
horizon。

〃In　fact；　it's　as　nearly　perfect　as　it　can　beand　not　take　angel…
wings　and　fly　away；〃　declared　Billy。　　〃I　have　named　it　'Hillside。'〃

Very　early　in　her　career　as　house…owner；　Billy　decided　that　however
delightful　it　might　be　to　have　a　furnace　to　shake；　it　would　not　be
at　all　delightful　to　shake　it；　besides；　there　was　the　new　motor　car
to　run。　　Billy　therefore　sought　and　found　a　good；　strong　man　who
had　not　only　the　muscle　and　the　willingness　to　shake　the　furnace；
but　the　skill　to　turn　chauffeur　at　a　moment's　notice。　　Best　of　all；
this　man　had　also　a　wife　who；　with　a　maid　to　assist　her；　would　take
full　charge　of　the　house；　and　thus　leave　Billy　and　Mrs。　Stetson
free　from　care。　　All　these；　together　with　a　canary；　and　a　kitten　as
near　like　Spunk　as　could　be　obtained；　made　Billy's　household。

〃And　now　I'm　ready　to　see　my　friends；〃　she　announced。

〃And　I　think　your　friends　will　be　ready　to　see　you；〃　Bertram
assured　her。

And　they　wereat　least；　so　it　appeared。　　For　at　once　the　little
house　perched　on　the　hillside　became　the　Mecca　for　many　of　the
Henshaws'　friends　who　had　known　Billy　as　William's　merry；　eighteen…
year…old　namesake。　　There　were　others；　too；　whom　Billy　had　met
abroad；　and　there　were　soft…stepping；　sweet…faced　old　women　and　an
occasional　white…whiskered　old　manAunt　Hannah's　friendswho
found　that　the　young　mistress　of　Hillside　was　a　charming　hostess。
There　were　also　the　Henshaw　〃boys；〃　and　there　was　always
Calderwellat　least；　so　Bertram　declared　to　himself　sometimes。

Bertram　came　frequently　to　the　little　house　on　the　hill；　even　more
frequently　than　William；　but　Cyril　was　not　seen　there　so　often。　　He
came　once　at　first；　it　is　true；　and　followed　Billy　from　room　to
room　as　she　proudly　displayed　her　new　home。　　He　showed　polite
interest　in　her　view；　and　a　perfunctory　enjoyment　of　the　tea　she
prepared　for　him。　　But　he　did　not　come　again　for　some　time；　and
when　he　did　come；　he　sat　stiffly　silent；　while　his　brothers　did
most　of　the　talking。

As　to　CalderwellCalderwell　seemed　suddenly　to　have　lost　his
interest　in　impenetrable　forests　and　unclimbable　mountains。
Nothing　more　intricate　than　the　long　Beacon　Street　boulevard；　or
more　inaccessible　than　Corey　Hill　seemed　worth　exploring；
apparently。　　According　to　Calderwell's　own　version　of　it；　he　had
〃settled　down〃；　he　was　going　to　〃be　something　that　was　something。〃
And　he　did　spend　sundry　of　his　morning　hours　in　a　Boston　law　office
with　ponderous；　calf…bound　volumes　spread　in　imposing　array　on　the
desk　before　him。　　Other　hoursmany　hourshe　spent　with　Billy。

One　day；　very　soon；　in　fact；　after　she　arrived　in　Boston；　Billy
asked　Calderwell　about　the　Henshaws。

〃Tell　me　about　them；〃　she　said。　　〃Tell　me　what　they　have　been　doing
all　these　years。〃

〃Tell　you　about　them！　　Why；　don't　you　know？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃No。　　Cyril　says　nothing。　　William　little　moreabout　themselves；
and　you　know　what　Bertram　is。　　One　can　hardly　separate　sense　from
nonsense　with　him。〃

〃You　don't　know；　then；　how　splendidly　Bertram　has　done　with　his
art？〃

〃No；　only　from　the　most　casual　hearsay。　　Has　he　done　well　then？〃

〃Finely！　　The　public　has　been　his　for　years；　and　now　the　critics
are　tumbling　over　each　other　to　do　him　honor。　　They　rave　about　his
'sensitive；　brilliant；　nervous　touch；'whatever　that　may　be；　his
'marvelous　color　sense'；　his　'beauty　of　line　and　pose。'　　And　they
quarrel　over　whether　it's　realism　or　idealism　that　constitutes　his
charm。〃

〃I'm　so　glad！　　And　is　it　still　the　'Face　of　a　Girl'？〃

〃Yes；　only　he's　doing　straight　portraiture　now　as　well。　　It's　got
to　be　quite　the　thing　to　be　'done'　by　Henshaw；　and　there's　many　a
fair　lady　that　has　graciously　commissioned　him　to　paint　her
portrait。　　He's　a　fine　fellow；　tooa　mighty　fine　fellow。　　You　may
not　know；　perhaps；　but　three　or　four　years　ago　he　waswell；　not
wild；　but　'frolicsome；'　he　would　probably　have　called　it。　　He　got
in　with　a　lot　of　fellows　thatwell；　that　weren't　good　for　a　chap
of　Bertram's　temperament。〃

〃LikeMr。　Seaver？〃

Calderwell　turned　sharply。

〃Did　YOU　know　Seaver？〃　he　demanded　in　obvious　surprise。

〃I　used　to　SEE　himwith　Bertram。〃

〃Oh！　　Well；　he　WAS　one　of　them；　unfortunately。　　But　Bertram　shipped
him　years　ago。〃

Billy　gave　a　sudden　radiant　smilebut　she　changed　the　subject　at
once。

〃And　Mr。　William　still　collects；　I　suppose；〃　she　observed。

〃Jove！　　I　should　say　he　did！　　I've　forgotten　the　latest；　but　he's　a
fine　fellow；　too；　like　Bertram。〃

〃AndMr。　Cyril？〃

Calderwell　frowned。

〃That　chap's　a　poser　for　me；　Billy；　and　no　mistake。　　I　can't　make
him　out！〃

〃What's　the　matter？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　Probably　I'm　not　'tuned　to　his　pitch。'　　Bertram
told　me　once　that　Cyril　was　very　sensitively　strung；　and　never
responded　until　a　certain　note　was　struck。　　Well；　I　haven't　ever
found　that　note；　I　reckon。〃

Billy　laughed。

〃I　never　heard　Bertram　say　that；　but　I　think　I　know　what　he　means；
and　he's　right；　too。　　I　begin　to　realize　now　what　a　jangling
discord　I　must　have　created　when　I　tried　to　harmonize　with　him
three　years　ago！　　But　what　is　he　doing　in　his　music？〃

The　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Same　thing。　　Plays　occasionally；　and　plays　well；　too；　but　he's　so
erratic　it's　difficult　to　get　him　to　do　it。　　Everything　must　be
just　so；　you　knowair；　light；　piano；　and　audience。　　He's　got
another　book　out；　I'm　tolda　profound　treatise　on　somebody's
something　or　othermusical；　of　course。〃

〃And　he　used　to　write　music；　doesn't　he　do　that　any　more？〃

〃I　believe　so。　　I　hear　of　it　occasionally　through　musical　friends
of　mine。　　They　even　play　it　to　me　sometimes。　　But　I　can't　stand　for
much　of　ithis　stuffreally；　Billy。〃

〃'Stuff'　indeed！　　And　why　not？〃　　An　odd　hostility　showed　in　Billy's
eyes。

Again　Calderwell　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Don't　ask　me。　　I　don't　know。　　But　they're　always　dead　slow；　somber
things；　with　the　wail　of　a　lost　spirit　shrieking　through　them。〃

〃But　I　just　love　lost　spirits　that　wail；〃　avowed　Billy；　with　more
than　a　shade　of　reproach　in　her　voice。

Calderwell　stared；　then　he　shook　his　head。

〃Not　in　mine；　thank　you；〃　he　retorted　whimsically。　　〃I　prefer　my
spirits　of　a　more　sane　and　cheerful　sort。〃

The　girl　laughed；　but　almost　instantly　she　fell　silent。

〃I've　been　wondering；〃　she　began　musingly；　after　a　time；　〃why　some
one　of　those　three　men　does　notmarry。〃

〃You　wouldn't　wonderif　you　knew　them　better；〃　declared　Calderwell。
〃Now　think。　　Let's　begin　at　the　top　of　the　Strataby　the　way；
Bertram's　name　for　that　establishment　is　mighty　clever！　　First；
Cyril：　according　to　Bertram　Cyril　hates　'all　kinds　of　women　and
other　confusion'；　and　I　fancy　Bertram　hits　it　about　right。　　So　that
settles　Cyril。　　Then　there's　Williamyou　know　William。　　Any　girl
would　say　William　was　a　dear；　but　William　isn't　a　MARRYING　man。　　Dad
says；〃Calderwell's　voice　softened　a　little〃dad　says　that　William
and　his　young　wife　were　the　most　devoted　couple　that　he　ever　saw；
and　that　when　she　died　she　seemed　to　take　with　her　the　whole　of
William's　heartthat　is；　what　hadn't　gone　with　the　baby　a　few　years
before。　　There　was　a　boy；　you　know；　that　died。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　nodded　Billy；　quick　tears　in　her　eyes。　　〃Aunt　Hannah
told　me。〃

〃Well；　that　counts　out　William；　then；〃　said　Calderwell；　with　an　air
of　finality。

〃But　how　about　Bertram？　　You　haven't　settled　Bertram；〃　laughed
Billy；　archly。

〃Bertram！〃　Calderwell's　eyes　widened。　　〃Billy；　can　you　imagine
Bertram's　making　love　in　real　earnest　to　a　girl？〃

〃Why；　Idon'tknow；　maybe！〃　　Billy　tipped　her　head　from　side　to
side　as　if　she　were　viewing　a　picture　set　up　for　her　inspection。

〃Well；　I　can't。　　In　the　first　place；　no　girl　would　think　he　was
serious；　or　if　by　any　chance　she　did；　she'd　soon　discover　that　it
was　the　turn　of　her　head　or　the　tilt　of　her　chin　that　he　admired
TO　PAINT。　　Now　isn't　that　so？〃

Billy　laughed；　but　she　did　not　answer。

〃It　is；　and　you　know　it；〃　declared　Calderwell。　　〃And　that　settles
him。　　Now　you　can　see；　perhaps；　why　none　of　these　menwill　marry。〃

It　was　a　long　minute　before　Billy　spoke。

〃Not　a　bit　of　it。　　I　don't　see　it　at　all；〃　she　declared　with
roguish　merriment。　　〃Moreover；　I　think　that　some　day；　some