miss billie married-第43章

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confidence　had　meant　to　Billy；　his　wife。



If　there　was　still　a　lingering　doubt　in　Bertram's

mind；　it　must　have　been　dispelled　in　less　than

an　hour　after　the　Bohemian　Ten　Club　Exhibition

flung　open　its　doors　on　its　opening　night。　　Once

again　Bertram　found　his　picture　the　cynosure

of　all　admiring　eyes；　and　himself　the　center　of　an

enthusiastic　group　of　friends　and　fellow…artists

who　vied　with　each　other　in　hearty　words　of

congratulation。　　And　when；　later；　the　feared　critics；

whose　names　and　opinions　counted　for　so　much

in　his　world；　had　their　say　in　the　daily　press　and

weekly　reviews；　Bertram　knew　how　surely　indeed

he　had　won。　　And　when　he　read　that　‘‘Henshaw's

work　shows　now　a　peculiar　strength；　a　sort　of

reserve　power；　as　it　were；　which；　beautiful　as　was

his　former　work；　it　never　showed　before；''　he

smiled　grimly；　and　said　to　Billy：



‘‘I　suppose；　now；　that　was　the　fighting　I　did

with　my　good　left　hand；　eh；　dear？''



But　there　was　yet　one　more　drop　that　was　to

make　Bertram's　cup　of　joy　brim　to　overflowing。　

It　came　just　one　month　after　the　Exhibition　in　the

shape　of　a　terse　dozen　words　from　the　doctor。　

Bertram　fairly　flew　home　that　day。　　He　had　no

consciousness　of　any　means　of　locomotion。　　He

thought　he　was　going　to　tell　his　wife　at　once　his

great　good　news；　but　when　he　saw　her；　speech

suddenly　fled；　and　all　that　he　could　do　was　to

draw　her　closely　to　him　with　his　left　arm　and　hide

his　face。



‘‘Why；　Bertram；　dearest；　whatwhat　is　it？''

stammered　the　thoroughly　frightened　Billy。　

‘‘Has　anything…happened？''



‘‘No；　noyesyes；　everything　has　happened。　

I　mean；　it's　going　to　happen；''　choked

the　man。　　‘‘Billy；　that　old　chap　says　that　I'm

going　to　have　my　arm　again。　　Think　of　itmy

good　right　arm　that　I've　lost　so　long！''



‘‘_Oh；　Bertram！_''　breathed　Billy。　　And　she；　too；

fell　to　sobbing。



Later；　when　speech　was　more　coherent；　she

faltered：



‘‘Well；　anyway；　it　doesn't　make　any　difference

_how_　many　beautiful　pictures　you　p…paint；　after

this；　Bertram；　I　_can't_　be　prouder　of　any　than　I

am　of　the　one　your　lleft　hand　did。''



‘‘Oh；　but　I　have　you　to　thank　for　all　that；

dear。''



‘‘No；　you　haven't；''　disputed　Billy；　blinking

teary　eyes；　‘‘but''　she　paused；　then　went　on

spiritedly；　‘‘but；　anyhow；　II　don't　believe

any　onenot　even　Katecan　say　_now_　that

that　I've　been　a　hindrance　to　you　in　your　c…career！''



‘‘Hindrance！''　scoffed　Bertram；　in　a　tone　that

left　no　room　for　doubt；　and　with　a　kiss　that　left

even　less；　if　possible。



Billy；　for　still　another　minute；　was　silent；　then；

with　a　wistfulness　that　was　half　playful；　half

serious；　she　sighed：



‘‘Bertram；　I　believe　being　married　is　something

like　clocks；　you　know；　'specially　at　the

first。''



‘‘Clocks；　dear？''



‘‘Yes。　　I　was　out　to　Aunt　Hannah's　to…day。　

She　was　fussing　with　her　clockthe　one　that

strikes　half　an　hour　aheadand　I　saw　all　those

quantities　of　wheels；　little　and　big；　that　have　to

go　just　so；　with　all　the　little　cogs　fitting　into　all

the　other　little　cogs　just　exactly　right。　　Well；

that's　like　marriage。　　See？　　There's　such　a　lot

of　little　cogs　in　everyday　life　that　have　to　be

fitted　so　they'll　run　smoothlythat　have　to　be

adjusted；　'specially　at　the　first。''



‘‘Oh；　Billy；　what　an　idea！''



‘‘But　it's　so；　really；　Bertram。　　Anyhow；　I

know　my　cogs　were　always　getting　out　of　place

at　the　first；''　laughed　Billy。　　‘‘And　I　was　like

Aunt　Hannah's　clock；　too；　always　going　off　half

an　hour　ahead　of　time。　　And　maybe　I　shall　be　so

again；　sometimes。　　But；　Bertram；''her　voice

shook　a　little‘‘if　you'll　just　look　at　my　face

you'll　see　that　I　tell　the　right　time　there；　just　as

Aunt　Hannah's　clock　does。　　I'm　sure；　always；

I'll　tell　the　right　time　there；　even　if　I　do　go　off

half　an　hour　ahead！''



‘‘As　if　I　didn't　know　that；''　answered

Bertram；　very　low　and　tenderly。　　‘‘Besides；　I　reckon

I　have　some　cogs　of　my　own　that　need　adjusting！''











End