miss billie married-第29章

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！



was　Hugh　Calderwell。　　As　it　happened　Bertram

was　out　when　he　came；　so　Billy　had　the　first　half…

hour　of　the　call　to　herself。　　She　was　not　sorry　for

this；　as　it　gave　her　a　chance　to　question　Calderwell

a　little　concerning　Alice　Greggorysomething

she　had　long　ago　determined　to　do　at　the

first　opportunity。



‘‘Now　tell　me　everythingeverything　about

everybody；''　she　began　diplomatically；　settling

herself　comfortably　for　a　good　visit。



‘‘Thank　you；　I'm　well；　and　have　had　a

passably　agreeable　summer；　barring　the　heat；　sundry

persistent　mosquitoes；　several　grievous　disappointments；

and　a　felon　on　my　thumb；''　he　began；　with

shameless　imperturbability。　　‘‘I　have　been　to

Revere　once；　to　the　circus　once；　to　Nantasket

three　times；　and　to　Keith's　and　the　‘movies'　ten

times；　perhapsto　be　accurate。　　I　have　also

But　perhaps　there　was　some　one　else　you　desired

to　inquire　for；''　he　broke　off；　turning　upon

his　hostess　a　bland　but　unsmiling　countenance。



‘‘Oh；　no；　how　could　there　be？''　twinkled　Billy。　

‘‘Really；　Hugh；　I　always　knew　you　had　a　pretty

good　opinion　of　yourself；　but　I　didn't　credit　you

with　thinking　you　were　_everybody_。　　Go　on。　　I'm

so　interested！''



Hugh　chuckled　softly；　but　there　was　a　plaintive

tone　in　his　voice　as　he　answered。



‘‘Thanks；　no。　　I've　rather　lost　my　interest

now。　　Lack　of　appreciation　always　did　discourage

me。　　We'll　talk　of　something　else；　please。　　You

enjoyed　your　trip？''



‘‘Very　much。　　It　just　couldn't　have　been

nicer！''



‘‘You　were　lucky。　　The　heat　here　has　been

something　fierce！''



‘‘What　made　you　stay？''



‘‘Reasons　too　numerous；　and　one　too　heart…

breaking；　to　mention。　　Besides；　you　forget；''　with

dignity。　　‘‘There　is　my　profession。　　I　have　joined

the　workers　of　the　world　now；　you　know。''



‘‘Oh；　fudge；　Hugh！''　laughed　Billy。　　‘‘You

know　very　well　you're　as　likely　as　not　to　start

for　the　ends　of　the　earth　to…morrow　morning！''



Hugh　drew　himself　up。



‘‘I　don't　seem　to　succeed　in　making　people

understand　that　I'm　serious；''　he　began　aggrievedly。　

‘‘I''　　With　an　expressive　flourish

of　his　hands　he　relaxed　suddenly；　and　fell　back

in　his　chair。　　A　slow　smile　came　to　his　lips。　

‘‘Well；　Billy；　I'll　give　up。　　You've　hit　it；''　he

confessed。　　‘‘I　_have_　thought　seriously　of　starting　to…

morrow　morning　for　_half…way_　to　the　ends　of　the

earthPanama。''



‘‘Hugh！''



‘‘Well；　I　have。　　Even　this　call　was　to　be　a

good…byif　I　went。''



‘‘Oh；　Hugh！　　But　I　really　thoughtin　spite

of　my　teasingthat　you　had　settled　down；　this

time。''



‘‘Yes；　so　did　I；''　sighed　the　man；　a　little　soberly。　

‘‘But　I　guess　it's　no　use；　Billy。　　Oh；　I'm　coming

back；　of　course；　and　link　arms　again　with　their

worthy　Highnesses；　John　Doe　and　Richard　Roe；

but　just　now　I've　got　a　restless　fit　on　me。　　I　want

to　see　the　wheels　go　'round。　　Of　course；　if　I　had

my　bread　and　butter　and　cigars　to　earn；　'twould

be　different。　　But　I　haven't；　and　I　know　I　haven't；

and　I　suspect　that's　where　the　trouble　lies。　　If　it

wasn't　for　those　natal　silver　spoons　of　mine　that

Bertram　is　always　talking　about；　things　might　be

different。　　But　the　spoons　are　there；　and　always

have　been；　and　I　know　they're　all　ready　to　dish

out　mountains　to　climb　and　lakes　to　paddle　in；

any　time　I've　a　mind　to　say　the　word。　　SoI

just　say　the　word。　　That's　all。''



‘‘And　you've　said　it　now？''



‘‘Yes；　I　think　so；　for　a　while。''



‘‘Andthose　reasons　that　_have_　kept　you　here

all　summer；''　ventured　Billy；　‘‘they　aren't　in

ercommission　any　longer？''



‘‘No。''



Billy　hesitated；　regarding　her　companion

meditatively。　　Then；　with　the　feeling　that　she　had

followed　a　blind　alley　to　its　termination；　she

retreated　and　made　a　fresh　start。



‘‘Well；　you　haven't　yet　told　me　everything

about　everybody；　you　know；''　she　hinted

smilingly。　　‘‘You　might　begin　thatI　mean　the

less　important　everybodies；　of　course；　now　that

I've　heard　about　you。''



‘‘Meaning''



‘‘Oh；　Aunt　Hannah；　and　the　Greggorys；　and

Cyril　and　Marie；　and　the　twins；　and　Mr。　Arkwright；

and　all　the　rest。''



‘‘But　you've　had　letters；　surely。''



‘‘Yes；　I've　had　letters　from　some　of　them；　and

I've　seen　most　of　them　since　I　came　back。　　It's

just　that　I　wanted　to　know　_your_　viewpoint　of

what's　happened　through　the　summer。''



‘‘Very　well。　　Aunt　Hannah　is　as　dear　as　ever；

wears　just　as　many　shawls；　and　still　keeps　her

clock　striking　twelve　when　it's　half…past　eleven。　

Mrs。　Greggory　is　just　as　sweet　as　everand　a

little　more　frail；　I　fear；bless　her　heart！　　Mr。

Arkwright　is　still　abroad；　as　I　presume　you　know。　

I　hear　he　is　doing　great　stunts　over　there；　and

will　sing　in　Berlin　and　Paris　this　winter。　　I'm

thinking　of　going　across　from　Panama　later。　　If

I　do　I　shall　look　him　up。　　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Cyril

are　as　well　as　could　be　expected　when　you　realize

that　they　haven't　yet　settled　on　a　pair　of　names

for　the　twins。''



‘‘I　know　itand　the　poor　little　things　three

months　old；　too！　　I　think　it's　a　shame。　　You've

heard　the　reason；　I　suppose。　　Cyril　declares　that

naming　babies　is　one　of　the　most　serious　and

delicate　operations　in　the　world；　and　that；　for　his

part；　he　thinks　people　ought　to　select　their　own

names　when　they've　arrived　at　years　of　discretion。　

He　wants　to　wait　till　the　twins　are　eighteen；

and　then　make　each　of　them　a　birthday　present

of　the　name　of　their　own　choosing。''



‘‘Well；　if　that　isn't　the　limit！''　laughed

Calderwell。　　‘‘I'd　heard　some　such　thing　before；　but

I　hadn't　supposed　it　was　really　so。''



‘‘Well；　it　is。　　He　says　he　knows　more　tomboys

and　enormous　fat　women　named　‘Grace'　and

‘Lily；'　and　sweet　little　mouse…like　ladies　staggering

along　under　a　sonorous　‘Jerusha　Theodosia'

or　‘Zenobia　Jane'；　and　that　if　he　should　name

the　boys　‘Franz'　and　‘Felix'　after　Schubert

and　Mendelssohn　as　Marie　wants　to；　they'd　as

likely　as　not　turn　out　to　be　men　who　hated　the

sound　of　music　and　doted　on　stocks　and　dry

goods。''



‘‘Humph！''　grunted　Calderwell。　　‘‘I　saw　Cyril

last　week；　and　he　said　he　hadn't　named　the　twins

yet；　but　he　didn't　tell　me　why。　　I　offered　him

two　perfectly　good　names　myself；　but　he　didn't

seem　interested。''



‘‘What　were　they？''



‘‘Eldad　and　Bildad。''



‘‘Hugh！''　protested　Billy。



‘‘Well；　why　not？''　bridled　the　man。　　‘‘I'm

sure　those　are　new　and　unique；　and　really　musical；

too'way　ahead　of　your　Franz　and　Felix。''



‘‘But　those　aren't　really　names！''



‘‘Indeed　they　are。''



‘‘Where　did　you　get　them？''



‘‘Off　our　family　tree；　though　they're　Bible

names；　Belle　says。　　Perhaps　you　didn't　know；　but

Sister　Belle　has　been　making　the　dirt　fly　quite

lively　of　late　around　that　family　tree　of　ours；　and

she　wrote　me　some　of　her　discoveries。　　It　seems

two　of　the　roots；　or　branchessay；　are　ancestors

roots；　or　branches？were　called　Eldad　and

Bildad。　　Now　I　thought　those　names　were　good

enough　to　pass　along；　but；　as　I　said　before；　Cyril

wasn't　interested。''



‘‘I　should　say　not；''　laughed　Billy。　　‘‘But；

honestly；　Hugh；　it's　really　serious。　　Marie　wants

them　named　_something_；　but　she　doesn't　say　much

to　Cyril。　　Marie　wouldn't　really　breathe；　you

know；　if　she　thought　Cyril　disapproved　of　breathing。　

And　in　this　case　Cyril　does　not　hesitate　to

declare　that　the　boys　shall　name　themselves。''



‘‘What　a　situation！''　laughed　Calderwell。



‘‘Isn't　it？　　But；　do　you　know；　I　can

sympathize　with　it；　in　a　way；　for　I've　always　mourned

so　over　_my_　name。　　‘Billy'　was　always　such　a

trial　to　me！　　Poor　Uncle　William　wasn't　the　only

one　that　prepared　guns　and　fishing　rods　to　entertain

the　expected　boy。　　I　don't　know；　though；

I'm　afraid　if　I'd　been　allowed　to　select　my　name

I　should　have　been　a　‘Helen　Clarabella'　all　my

days；　for　that　was　the　name　I　gave　all　my　dolls；

with　‘first；'　‘second；'　‘third；'　and　so　on；　added

to　them　for　distinction。　　Evidently　I　thought　that

‘Helen　Clarabella'　was　the　most　feminine

appellation　possible；　and　the　most　foreign　to　the

despised　‘Billy。'　　So　you　see　I　can　sympathize

with　Cyril　to　a　certain　extent。''



‘‘But　they　must　call　the　little　chaps　_something_；

now；''　argued　Hugh。



Billy　gave　a　sudden　merry　laugh。



‘‘They　do；''　she　gurgled；　‘‘and　that's　the　funniest

part　of　it。　　Oh；　Cyril　doesn't。　　He　always　calls

them　impersonally　‘they'　or　‘it。'　　He　doesn't

see　much　of　them　anyway；　now；　I　understand。　

Marie　was　horrified　when　she　realized　how　the

nurses　had　been　using　his　den　as　a　nursery　annex

and　she　changed　all　that　instanter；　when　she　took

charge　of　things　again。　　The　twins　stay　in　the

nursery　now；　I'm　told。　　But　about　the　names

the　nurses；　it　seems；　have　got　into　the　way　of

calling　them　‘Dot'　and　‘Dimple。'　　One　has　a

dimple　in　his　cheek；　and　the　other　is　a　little　smaller

of　the　two。　　Marie　is　no　end　distressed；　particularly

as　she　finds　that　she　herself　calls　them　that；

and　she　says　the　idea　of　boys　being　‘Dot'　and

‘Dimple'！''



‘‘I　should　say　so；''　laughed　Calderwell。　　‘‘Not

I　regard　that　as　worse　than　my　‘Eldad'　and

‘Bildad。'　''



‘‘I　know　it；　and　Alice　says　　By　the　way；

you　haven't　mentioned　Alice；　but　I　suppose　you

see　her　occasionally。''



Billy　paused　in　evident　expectation　of　a　reply。　

Billy　was；　in　fact；　quite　pluming　herself　on　the

adroit　casualness　with　which　she　had　introduced

the　subject　nearest　her　heart。



Calderwell　raised　his　eyebrows。



‘‘Oh；　yes；　I　see　her。''



‘‘But　you　hadn't　mentioned　her。''



There　was　the　briefest　of　pauses；　then　with　a

half…quizzical　dejection；　there　came　the　remark：



‘‘You　seem　to　forget。　　I　told　you　that　I　stayed

here　this　summer　for　reasons　too　numerous；　and

one　too　heart…breaking；　to　mention。　　She　was

the　_one_。''



‘‘You　mean''



‘‘Yes。　　The　usual　thing。　　She　turned　me　down。　

Oh；　I　haven't　asked　her　yet　as　many　times　as　I

did　you；　but''



‘‘_Hugh！_''



Hugh　tossed　her　a　grim　smile　and　went　on

imperturbably。



‘‘I'm　older　now；　of　course；　and　know　more；

perhaps。　　Besides；　the　finality　of　her　remarks　was

not　to　be　mistaken。''



Billy；　in　spite　of　her　sympathy　for　Calderwell；

was　conscious　of　a　throb　of　relief　that　at　least　one

stumbling…block　was　removed　from　Arkwright's

possible　pathway　to　Alice's　heart。



‘‘Did　she　give　any　special　reason？''　hazarded

Billy；　a　shade　too　anxiously。



‘‘Oh；　yes。　　She　said　she　wasn't　going　to　marry

anybodyonly　her　music。''



‘‘Nonsense！''　ejaculated　Billy；　falling　back　in

her　chair　a　little。



‘‘Yes；　I　said　that；　too；''　gloomed　the　man；

‘‘but　it　didn't　do　any　good。　　You　see；　I　had

known　another　girl　who'd　said　the　same　thing

once。''　　（He　did　not　look　up；　but　a　vivid　red

flamed　suddenly　into　Billy's　cheeks。）　　‘‘And　she

when　the　right　one　cameforgot　all　about

the　music；　and　married　the　man。　　So　I　naturally

suspected　that　Alice