miss billy-第5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！
You know you were always lugging those things home when you were
his age。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 sighed William。 〃But I can't think it's anything
like that；〃 he finished； as he turned away。
There was very little done in the Beacon Street house that day but
to 〃get ready for Billy。〃 In the kitchen Dong Ling cooked。
Everywhere else； except in Cyril's domain； Pete dusted and swept
and 〃puttered〃 to his heart's content。 William did not go to the
office at all that day； and Bertram did not touch his brushes。
Only Cyril attended to his usual work： practising for a coming
concert； and correcting the proofs of his new book； 〃Music in
Russia。〃
At ten minutes before five William； anxious…eyed and nervous； found
himself at the North Station。 Then； and not till then； did he draw
a long breath of relief。
〃There！ I think everything's ready；〃 he sighed to himself。 〃At
last！〃
He wore no pink in his buttonhole。 There was no need that he
should accede to that silly request； he told himself。 He had only
to look for a youth of perhaps eighteen years； who would be alone；
a little frightened； possibly； and who would have a pink in his
buttonhole； and probably a dog on a leash。
As he waited； the man was conscious of a curious warmth at his
heart。 It was his namesake； Walter Neilson's boy； that he had come
to meet； a homesick； lonely orphan who had appealed to himto him；
out of all the world。 Long years ago in his own arms there had
been laid a tiny bundle of flannel holding a precious little red；
puckered face。 But in a month's time the little face had turned
cold and waxen； and the hopes that the white flannel bundle had
carried had died with the baby boy；and that baby would have been
a lad grown by this time； if he had liveda lad not far from the
age of this Billy who was coming to…day； reflected the man。 And
the warmth in his heart deepened and glowed the more as he stood
waiting at the gate for Billy to arrive。
The train from Hampden Falls was late。 Not until quite fifteen
minutes past five did it roll into the train…shed。 Then at once
its long line of passengers began to sweep toward the iron gate。
William was just inside the gate now； anxiously scanning every face
and form that passed。 There were many half…grown lads； but there
was not one with a pink in his buttonhole until very near the end。
Then William saw hima pleasant…faced； blue…eyed boy in a neat
gray suit。 With a low cry William started forward； but he saw at
once that the gray…clad youth was unmistakably one of a merry
family party。 He looked to be anything but a lad that was lonely
and forlorn。
William hesitated and fell back。 This debonair； self…reliant
fellow could not be Billy！ But as a hasty glance down the line
revealed only half a dozen straggling women； and beyond them； no
one； William decided that it must be Billy； and taking brave hold
of his courage； he hurried after the blue…eyed youth and tapped him
on the shoulder。
〃Eraren't you Billy？〃 he stammered。
The lad stopped and stared。 He shook his head slowly。
〃No； sir；〃 he said。
〃But you must be！ Are you sure？〃
The boy laughed this time。
〃Sorry； sir； but my name is 'Frank'； isn't it； mother？〃 he added
merrily； turning to the lady at his side； who was regarding William
very unfavorably through a pair of gold…bowed spectacles。
William did not wait for more。 With a stammered apology and a
flustered lifting of his hat he backed away。
But where was Billy？
William looked about him in helpless dismay。 All around was a
wide； empty space。 The long aisle to the Hampden Falls train was
deserted save for the baggage…men loading the trunks and bags on to
their trucks。 Nowhere was there any one who seemed forlorn or ill
at ease except a pretty girl with a suit…case； and with a covered
basket on her arm； who stood just outside the gate； gazing a little
nervously about her。
William looked twice at this girl。 First； because the splash of
color against her brown coat had called his attention to the fact
that she was wearing a pink； and secondly because she was very
pretty； and her dark eyes carried a peculiarly wistful appeal。
〃Too bad Bertram isn't here；〃 thought William。 〃He'd be sketching
that face in no time on his cuff。〃
The pink had given William almost a pang。 He had been so longing
to see a pinkthough in a different place。 He wondered
sympathetically if she； too； had come to meet some one who had not
appeared。 He noticed that she walked away from the gate once or
twice； toward the waiting…room； and peered anxiously through the
glass doors； but always she came back to the gate as if fearful to
be long away from that place。 He forgot all about her very soon；
for her movements had given him a sudden idea： perhaps Billy was in
the waiting…room。 How stupid of him not to think of it before！
Doubtless they had missed each other in the crowd； and Billy had
gone straight to the waiting…room to look for him。 And with this
thought William hurried away at once； leaving the girl still
standing by the gate alone。
He looked everywhere。 Systematically he paced up and down between
the long rows of seats； looking for a boy with a pink。 He even
went out upon the street； and gazed anxiously in all directions。
It occurred to him after a time that possibly Billy； like himself；
had changed his mind at the last moment； and not worn the pink。
Perhaps he had forgotten it； or lost it； or even not been able to
get it at all。 Very bitterly William blamed himself then for
disregarding his own part of the suggested plan。 If only he had
worn the pink himself！but he had not； and it was useless to
repine。 In the meantime； where was Billy； he wondered frantically。
CHAPTER VI
THE COMING OF BILLY
After another long search William came back to the train…shed；
vaguely hoping that Billy might even then be there。 The girl was
still standing alone by the gate。 There was another train on the
track now； and the rush of many feet had swept her a little to one
side。 She looked frightened now； and almost ready to cry。 Still；
William noticed that her chin was lifted bravely； and that she was
making a stern effort at self…control。 He hesitated a moment； then
went straight toward her。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said kindly； lifting his hat； 〃but I notice
that you have been waiting here some time。 Perhaps there is
something I can do for you。〃
A rosy color swept to the girl's face。 Her eyes lost their
frightened appeal； and smiled frankly into his。
〃Oh； thank you； sir！ There IS something you can do for me； if you
will be so kind。 You see； I can't leave this place； I'm so afraid
he'll come and I'll miss him。 ButI think there's some mistake。
Could you telephone for me？〃 Billy Neilson was country…bred； and
in Hampden Falls all men served all other men and women； whether
they were strangers or not； so to Billy this was not an extraordinary
request to make； in the least。
William Henshaw smiled。
〃Certainly； I shall be very glad to telephone for you。 Just tell
me whom you want； and what you want to say。〃
〃Thank you。 If you'll call up Mr。 William Henshaw； then； of Beacon
Street； please； and tell him Billy's come。 I'll wait here。〃
〃Oh； then Billy did come！〃 cried the man in glad surprise； his face
alight。 〃But where is he？ Do YOU know Billy？〃
〃I should say I did；〃 laughed Billy； with the lightness of a long…
lost child who has found a friend。 〃Why； I am Billy； myself！〃
To William Henshaw the world swam dizzily； and went suddenly mad。
The floor rose； and the roof fell； while cars and people performed
impossible acrobatic feats above； below； and around him。 Then；
from afar off； he heard his own voice stammer：
〃YouareB…Billy！〃
〃Yes； and I'll wait here； if you'll just tell him； please。 He's
expecting me； you know； so it's all right； only perhaps he made a
mistake in the time。 Maybe you know him； anyhow。〃
With one mighty effort William Henshaw pulled himself sharply
together。 He even laughed； and tossed his head in a valiant
imitation of Billy herself； but his voice shook。
〃Know him！I should say I did！〃 he cried。 〃Why； I am William
Henshaw；
