miss billy-第7章
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came the sound of wheels stopping before the house。
There followed the click of a key in the lock and the opening of a
heavy door； then； full in the glare of the electric lights stood a
plainly nervous man； and a girl with startled； appealing eyes。
〃My dear；〃 stammered William； 〃this is my sister； Kate； Mrs。
Hartwell； and here are Cyril and Bertram； whom I've told you of。
And of course I don't need to say to them that you are Billy。〃
It was over。 William drew a long breath； and gave an agonized look
into his brothers' eyes。 Then Billy turned from Mrs。 Hartwell and
held out a cordial hand to each of the men in turn。
〃Oh； you don't know how lovely this isto me；〃 she cried softly。
〃And to think that you were willing I should come！〃 The two
younger men caught their breath sharply； and tried not to see each
other's eyes。 〃You look so goodall of you； and I don't believe
there's one of you that's got nerves or a heart；〃 she laughed。
Bertram rallied his wits to respond to the challenge。
〃No heart； Miss Billy？ Now isn't that just a bit hard on usright
at first？〃
〃Not a mite； if you take it the way I mean it；〃 dimpled Billy。
〃Hearts that are all right just keep on pumping； and you never know
they are there。 They aren't worth mentioning。 It's the other
kindthe kind that flutters at the least noise and jumps at the
least bang！ And I don't believe any of you mind noises and bangs；〃
she finished merrily； as she handed her hat and coat to Mrs。
Hartwell； who was waiting to receive them。
Bertram laughed。 Cyril scowled； and occupied himself in finding a
chair。 William had already dropped himself wearily on to the sofa
near his sister。 Billy still continued to talk。
〃Now when Spunk and I get to trainingoh； and you haven't seen
Spunk！〃 she interrupted herself suddenly。 〃Why； the introductions
aren't half over。 Where is he； Uncle Williamthe basket？〃
〃II put it inin the hall；〃 mumbled William； starting to rise。
〃No； no； I'll get him；〃 cried Billy； hurrying from the room。 She
returned in a moment； the green covered basket in her hand。 〃He's
been asleep； I guess。 He's slept 'most all the way down； anyhow。
He's so used to being toted 'round in this basket that he doesn't
mind it a bit。 I take him everywhere in it at the Falls。〃
There was an electric pause。 Four pairs of startled； questioning；
fearful eyes were on the basket while Billy fumbled at the knot of
the string。 The next moment； with a triumphant flourish； Billy
lifted from the basket and placed on the floor a very small gray
kitten with a very large pink bow。
〃There； ladies and gentlemen； may I present to you； Spunk。〃
The tiny creature winked and blinked； and balanced for a moment on
sleepy legs； then at the uncontrollable shout that burst from
Bertram's throat； he faced the man； humped his tiny back； bristled
his diminutive tail to almost unbelievable fluffiness； and spit
wrathfully。
〃And so that is Spunk！〃 choked Bertram。
〃Yes；〃 said Billy。 〃This is Spunk。〃
CHAPTER VIII
THE ROOMAND BILLY
For the first fifteen minutes after Billy's arrival conversation
was a fitful thing made up mostly of a merry monologue on the part
of Billy herself； interspersed with somewhat dazed replies from one
after another of her auditors as she talked to them in turn。 No
one thought to ask if she cared to go up to her room； and during
the entire fifteen minutes Billy sat on the floor with Spunk in her
lap。 She was still there when the funereal face of Pete appeared
in the doorway。 Pete's jaw dropped。 It was plain that only the
sternest self…control enabled him to announce dinner； with anything
like dignity。 But he managed to stammer out the words； and then
turn loftily away。 Bertram； who sat near the door； however； saw
him raise his hands in horror as he plunged through the hall and
down the stairway。
With a motion to Bertram to lead the way with Billy； William
frenziedly gripped his sister's arm； and hissed in her ear for all
the world like a villain in melodrama：
〃Listen！ You'll sleep in Bert's room to…night； and Bert will come
up…stairs with me。 Get Billy to bed as soon as you can after
dinner； and then come back down to us。 We've got to plan what's
got to be done。 Sh…h！〃 And he dragged his sister downstairs。
In the dining…room there was a slight commotion。 Billy stood at
her chair with Spunk in her arms。 Before her Pete was standing；
dumbly staring into her eyes。 At last he stammered：
〃Ma'am？〃
〃A chair； please； I said； for Spunk； you know。 Spunk always sits
at the table right next to me。〃
It was too much for Bertram。 He fled chokingly to the hall。
William dropped weakly into his own place。 Cyril stared as had
Pete； but Mrs。 Hartwell spoke。
〃You don't meanthat that cathas a chairat the table！〃 she
gasped。
〃Yes； and isn't it cute of him？〃 beamed Billy； entirely misconstruing
the surprise in the lady's voice。 〃His mother always sat at table
with us； and behaved beautifully； too。 Of course Spunk is little；
and makes mistakes sometimes。 But he'll learn。 Oh； there's a chair
right here；〃 she added； as she spied Bertram's childhood's
high…chair； which for long years had stood unused in the corner。
〃I'll just squeeze it right in here；〃 she finished gleefully； making
room for the chair at her side。
When Bertram； a little red of face； but very grave； entered； the
dining…room a moment later； he found the family seated with Spunk
snugly placed between Billy and a plainly disgusted and dismayed
brother； Cyril。 The kitten was alert and interested； but he had
settled back in his chair； and was looking as absurdly dignified as
the flaring pink bow would let him。
〃Isn't he a dear？〃 Billy was saying。 But Bertram noticed that
there was no reply to this question。
It was a peculiar dinner…party。 Only Billy did not feel the
strain。 Even Spunk was not entirely happyhis efforts to
investigate the table and its contents were too frequently curbed
by his mistress for his unalloyed satisfaction。 William； it is
true； made a valiant attempt to cause the conversation to be
general； but he failed dismally。 Kate was sternly silent； while
Cyril was openly repellent。 Bertram talked； indeedbut Bertram
always talked； and very soon he and Billy had things pretty much to
themselvesthat is； with occasional interruptions caused by Spunk。
Spunk had an inquisitive nose or paw for each new dish placed
before his mistress； and Billy spent much time admonishing him。
Billy said she was training him； that it was wonderful what
training would do； and； of course； Spunk WAS little； now。
Dinner was half over when there was a slight diversion created by
Spunk's conclusion to get acquainted with the silent man at his
left。 Cyril； however； did not respond to Spunk's advances。 So
very evident； indeed； was the man's aversion that Billy turned in
amazement。
〃Why； Mr。 Cyril； don't you see？ Spunk is trying to say 'How do you
do'？〃
〃Very likely； but I'm not fond of cats； Miss Billy。〃
〃You're not fondofcats！〃 repeated the girl； as if she could not
have heard aright。 〃Why not？〃
Cyril changed his position。
〃Why； just because II'm not；〃 he retorted lamely。 〃Isn't there
anything thatthat you don't like？〃
Billy considered。
〃Why； not that I know of；〃 she began； after a moment； 〃only rainy
days andtripe。 And Spunk isn't a bit like those。〃
Bertram chuckled； and even Cyril smiledthough unwillingly。
〃All the same；〃 he reiterated； 〃I don't like cats。〃
〃Oh； I'm so sorry；〃 lamented Billy； and at the grieved hurt in her
dark eyes Bertram came promptly to the rescue。
〃Never mind； Miss Billy。 Cyril is only ONE of us； and there is all
the rest of the Strata besides。〃
〃Thewhat？〃
〃The Strata。 You don't know； of course； but listen； and I'll tell
you。〃 And he launched gaily forth into his favorite story。
Billy was duly amused and interested。 She laughed and clapped her
hands； and when the story was done she clapped them again。
〃Oh； what a funny house！ And how perfectly lovely that I'm going
to live in it；〃 she cried。 Then straight at Mrs。 Hartwell she
hurled a bombshell。 〃But where is your stratum？〃 she dem
