miss billie married-第7章

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‘‘But；　really；　listenit's　sensible；''　urged

Billy。　　‘‘First；　there's　Tommy。　　His　mother　died

last　month。　　He's　at　a　neighbor's　now；　but　they're

going　to　send　him　to　a　Home　for　Crippled　Children；

and　he's　grieving　his　heart　out　over　it。　

I'm　going　to　bring　him　here　to　a　real　home

the　kind　that　doesn't　begin　with　a　capital　letter。　

He　adores　music；　and　he's　got　real　talent；　I　think。　

Then　there's　the　Greggorys。''



Aunt　Hannah　looked　dubious。



‘‘You　can't　get　the　Greggorys　toto　use　any

of　that　happiness；　Billy。　　They're　too　proud。''



Billy　smiled　radiantly。



‘‘I　know　I　can't　get　them　to　_use_　it；　Aunt

Hannah；　but　I　believe　I　can　get　them　to　_give_　it；''

she　declared　triumphantly。　　‘‘I　shall　ask　Alice

Greggory　to　teach　Tommy　music；　and　I　shall

ask　Mrs。　Greggory　to　teach　him　books；　and　I

shall　tell　them　both　that　I　positively　need　them

to　keep　you　company。''



‘‘Oh；　but　Billy；''　bridled　Aunt　Hannah；　with

prompt　objection。



‘‘Tut；　tut！I　know　you'll　be　willing　to　be

thrown　as　a　little　bit　of　a　sop　to　the　Greggorys'

pride；''　coaxed　Billy。　　‘‘You　just　wait　till　I　get

the　Overflow　Annex　in　running　order。　　Why；

Aunt　Hannah；　you　don't　know　how　busy　you're

going　to　be　handing　out　all　that　extra　happiness

that　I　can't　use！''



‘‘You　dear　child！''　Aunt　Hannah　smiled

mistily。　　The　black　shawl　had　fallen　unheeded

to　the　floor　now。　　‘‘As　if　anybody　ever　had　any

more　happiness　than　one's　self　could　use！''



‘‘I　have；''　avowed　Billy；　promptly；　‘‘and　it's

going　to　keep　growing　and　growing；　I　know。''



‘‘Oh；　my　grief　and　conscience；　Billy；　don't！''

exclaimed　Aunt　Hannah；　lifting　shocked　hands　of

remonstrance。　　‘‘Rap　on　wooddo！　　How　can

you　boast　like　that？''



Billy　dimpled　roguishly　and　sprang　to　her　feet｛。？？｝



‘‘Why；　Aunt　Hannah；　I'm　ashamed　of　you！　

To　be　superstitious　like　thatyou；　a　good

Presbyterian！''



Aunt　Hannah　subsided　shamefacedly。



‘‘Yes；　I　know；　Billy；　it　is　silly；　but　I　just　can't

help　it。''



‘‘Oh；　but　it's　worse　than　silly；　Aunt　Hannah；''

teased　Billy；　with　a　remorseless　chuckle。　　‘‘It's

really　_heathen！_　　Bertram　told　me　once　that　it

dates　'way　back　to　the　time　of　the　Druids

appealing　to　the　god　of　trees；　or　something　like　that

when　you　rap　on　wood；　you　know。''



‘‘Ugh！''　shuddered　Aunt　Hannah。　　‘‘As　if

I　would；　Billy！　　How　is　Bertram；　by　the　by？''



A　swift　shadow　crossed　Billy's　bright　face。



‘‘He's　lovelyonly　his　arm。''



‘‘His　arm！　　But　I　thought　that　was　better。''



‘‘Oh；　it　is；''　drooped　Billy；　‘‘but　it　gets　along

so　slowly；　and　it　frets　him　dreadfully。　　You　know

he　never　can　do　anything　with　his　left　hand；　he

says；　and　he　just　hates　to　have　things　done　for

himthough　Pete　and　Dong　Ling　are　quarreling

with　each　other　all　the　time　to　do　things　for

him；　and　I'm　quarreling　with　both　of　them　to　do

them　for　him　myself！　　By　the　way；　Dong　Ling

is　going　to　leave　us　next　week。　　Did　you　know

it？''



‘‘Dong　Lingleave！''



‘‘Yes。　　Oh；　he　told　Bertram　long　ago　he

should　go　when　we　were　married；　that　he　had

plenty　much　money；　and　was　going　back　to　China；

and　not　be　Melican　man　any　longer。　　But　I　don't

think　Bertram　thought　he'd　do　it。　　William　says

Dong　Ling　went　to　Pete；　however；　after　we　left；

and　told　him　he　wanted　to　go；　that　he　liked　the

little　Missee　plenty　well；　but　that　there'd　be　too

much　hen…talk　when　she　got　back；　and''



‘‘Why；　the　impudent　creature！''



Billy　laughed　merrily。



‘‘Yes；　Pete　was　furious；　William　says；　but

Dong　Ling　didn't　mean　any　disrespect；　I'm　sure。　

He　just　wasn't　used　to　having　petticoats　around；

and　didn't　want　to　take　orders　from　them；　that's

all。''



‘‘But；　Billy；　what　will　you　do？''



‘‘Oh；　Pete's　fixed　all　that　lovely；''　returned

Billy；　nonchalantly。　　‘‘You　know　his　niece　lives

over　in　South　Boston；　and　it　seems　she's　got　a

daughter　who's　a　fine　cook　and　will　be　glad　to

come。　　Mercy！　　Look　at　the　time；''　she　broke　off；

glancing　at　the　clock。　　‘‘I　shall　be　late　to　dinner；

and　Dong　Ling　loathes　anybody　who's　late　to　his

mealsas　I　found　out　to　my　sorrow　the　night

we　got　home。　　Good…by；　dear。　　I'll　be　out　soon

again　and　fix　it　all　upabout　the　Annex；　you

know。''　　And　with　a　bright　smile　she　was　gone。



‘‘Dear　me；''　sighed　Aunt　Hannah；　stooping　to

pick　up　the　black　shawl；　‘‘dear　me！　　Of　course

everything　will　be　all　rightthere's　a　girl　coming；

even　if　Dong　Ling　is　going。　　Butbut

Oh；　my　grief　and　conscience；　what　an　extraordinary

child　Billy　is；　to　be　surebut　what　a　dear

one！''　she　added；　wiping　a　quick　tear　from　her

eye。　　‘‘An　Overflow　Annex；　indeed；　for　her　‘extra

happiness'！　　Now　isn't　that　just　like　Billy？''







CHAPTER　V



TIGER　SKINS





September　passed　and　October　came；　bringing

with　it　cool　days　and　clear；　crisp　evenings　royally

ruled　over　by　a　gorgeous　harvest　moon。　　According

to　Billy　everything　was　just　perfectexcept；

of　course；　poor　Bertram's　arm；　and　even　the

fact　that　that　gained　so　slowly　was　not　without

its　advantage　（again　according　to　Billy）；　for　it

gave　Bertram　more　time　to　be　with　her。



‘‘You　see；　dear；　as　long　as　you　_can't_　paint；''　she

told　him　earnestly；　one　day；　‘‘why；　I'm　not

really　hindering　you　by　keeping　you　with　me　so

much。''



‘‘You　certainly　are　not；''　he　retorted；　with　a

smile。



‘‘Then　I　may　be　just　as　happy　as　I　like　over

it；''　settled　Billy；　comfortably。



‘‘As　if　you　ever　could　hinder　me；''　he　ridiculed。



‘‘Oh；　yes；　I　could；''　nodded　Billy；　emphatically。　

‘‘You　forget；　sir。　　That　was　what　worried

me　so。　　Everybody；　even　the　newspapers　and

magazines；　said　I　_would_　do　it；　too。　　They　said　I'd

slay　your　Art；　stifle　your　Ambition；　destroy　your

Inspiration；　and　be　a　nuisance　generally。　　And

Kate　said''



‘‘Yes。　　Well；　never　mind　what　Kate　said；''

interrupted　the　man；　savagely。



Billy　laughed；　and　gave　his　ear　a　playful

tweak。



‘‘All　right；　but　I'm　not　going　to　do　it；　you

knowspoil　your　career；　sir。　　You　just　wait；''

she　continued　dramatically。　　‘‘The　minute　your

arm　gets　so　you　can　paint；　I　myself　shall　conduct

you　to　your　studio；　thrust　the　brushes　into　your

hand；　fill　your　palette　with　all　the　colors　of　the

rainbow；　and　order　you　to　paint；　my　lord；　paint！　

Butuntil　then　I'm　going　to　have　you　all　I

like；''　she　finished；　with　a　complete　change　of

manner；　nestling　into　the　ready　curve　of　his　good

left　arm。



‘‘You　witch！''　laughed　the　man；　fondly。　

‘‘Why；　Billy；　you　couldn't　hinder　me。　　You'll　_be_

my　inspiration；　dear；　instead　of　slaying　it。　　You'll

see。　　_This_　time　Marguerite　Winthrop's　portrait

is　going　to　be　a　success。''



Billy　turned　quickly。



‘‘Then　you　arethat　is；　you　haven'tI

mean；　you're　going　topaint　it？''



‘‘I　just　am；''　avowed　the　artist。　　‘‘And　this

time　it'll　be　a　success；　too；　with　you　to　help。''



Billy　drew　in　her　breath　tremulously。



‘‘I　didn't　know　but　you'd　already　started　it；''

she　faltered。



He　shook　his　head。



‘‘No。　　After　the　other　one　failed；　and　Mr。

Winthrop　asked　me　to　try　again；　I　couldn't　_then_。　

I　was　so　troubled　over　you。　　That's　the　time　you

did　hinder　me；''　he　smiled。　　‘‘Then　came　your

note　breaking　the　engagement。　　Of　course　I　knew

too　much　to　attempt　a　thing　like　that　portrait

then。　　But　now_now_！''　　The　pause　and　the

emphasis　were　eloquent。



‘‘Of　course；　_now_；''　nodded　Billy；　brightly；　but

a　little　feverishly。　　‘‘And　when　do　you　begin？''



‘‘Not　till　January。　　Miss　Winthrop　won't　be

back　till　then。　　I　saw　J。　G。　last　week；　and　I　told

him　I'd　accept　his　offer　to　try　again。''



‘‘What　did　he　say？''



‘‘He　gave　my　left　hand　a　big　grip　and　said：

‘Good！and　you'll　win　out　this　time。'　''



‘‘Of　course　you　will；''　nodded　Billy；　again；

though　still　a　little　feverishly。　　‘‘And　this　time

I　sha'n't　mind　a　bit　if　you　do　stay　to　luncheon；

and　break　engagements　with　me；　sir；''　she　went

on；　tilting　her　chin　archly；　‘‘for　I　shall　know　it's

the　portrait　and　not　the　sitter　that's　really

keeping　you。　　Oh；　you'll　see　what　a　fine　artist's　wife

I'll　make！''



‘‘The　very　best；''　declared　Bertram　so　ardently

that　Billy　blushed；　and　shook　her　head　in　reproof。



‘‘Nonsense！　　I　wasn't　fishing。　　I　didn't　mean　it

that　way；''　she　protested。　　Then；　as　he　tried　to

catch　her；　she　laughed　and　danced　teasingly　out

of　his　reach。



Because　Bertram　could　not　paint；　therefore；

Billy　had　him　quite　to　herself　these　October　days；

nor　did　she　hesitate　to　appropriate　him。　　Neither；

on　his　part；　was　Bertram　loath　to　be　appropriated。　

Like　two　lovers　they　read　and　walked　and　talked

together；　and　like　two　children；　sometimes；　they

romped　through　the　stately　old　rooms　with

Spunkie；　or　with　Tommy　Dunn；　who　was　a　frequent

guest。　　Spunkie；　be　it　known；　was　renewing

her　kittenhood；　so　potent　was　the　influence　of

the　dangling　strings　and　rolling　balls　that　she

encountered　everywhere；　and　Tommy　Dunn；　with

Billy's　help；　was　learning　that　not　even　a　pair

of　crutches　need　keep　a　lonely　little　lad　from　a

frolic。　　Even　William；　roused　from　his　after…

dinner　doze　by　peals　of　laughter；　was　sometimes

inveigled　into　activities　that　left　him　breathless；

but　curiously　aglow。　　While　Pete；　polishing　silver

in　the　dining…room　down…stairs；　smiled　indulgently

at　the　merry　clatter　aboveand　forgot

the　teasing　pain　in　his　side。



But　it　was　not　all　nonsense　with　Billy；　nor　gay

laughter。　　More　often　it　was　a　tender　glow　in　the

eyes；　a　softness　in　the　voice；　a　radiant　something

like　an　aura　of　joy　all　about　her；　that　told　how

happy　indeed　were　these　days　for　her。　　There

was　proof　by　word　of　mouth；　toolong　talks

with　Bertram　in　the　dancing　firelight　when　they

laid　dear　plans　for　the　future；　and　when　she　tried

so　hard　to　make　her　husband　understand　what　a

good；　good　wife　she　intended　to　be；　and　how　she

meant　never　to　let　anything　come　between　them。



It　was　so　earnest　and　serious　a　Billy　by　this

time　that　Bertram　would　turn　startled；　dismayed

eyes　on　his　young　wife；　whereupon；　with　a　very

Billy…like　change　of　mood；　she　would　give　him

one　of　her　rare　caresses；　and　perhaps　sigh：



‘‘Gooseyit's　only　because　I'm　so　happy；

happy；　happy！　　Why；　Bertram；　if　it　weren't　for

that　Overflow　Annex　I　believe　II　just　couldn't

live！



It　was　Bertram　who　sighed　then；　and　who

prayed　fervently　in　his　heart　that　never　might　he

see　a　real　shadow　cloud　that　dear　face。



Thus　far；　certainly；　the　cares　of　matrimony

had　rested　anything　but　heavily　upon　the　shapely

young　shoulders　of　the　new　wife。　　Domestic　affairs

at　the　Strata　moved　like　a　piece　of　well…oiled

machinery。　　Dong　Ling；　to　be　sure；　was　not　there；

but　in　his　place　reigned　Pete's　grandniece；　a　fresh…

faced；　capable　young　woman　who　（Bertram

declared）　cooked　like　an　angel　and　minded　her　own

business　like　a　man。　　Pete；　as　of　yore；　had　full