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第34章

miss billie married-第34章

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been going on like thisvery long?''



Arkwright still; apparently; did not understand。



‘‘Haswhat been going on?'' he questioned。



‘‘Thatover there;'' answered Billy;

impatiently; scarcely knowing whether to be more

irritated at the threatened miscarriage of her

cherished plans; or at Arkwright's (to her)

wilfully blind insistence on her making her meaning

more plain。  ‘‘Has it been going on longsuch

utter devotion?''



As she asked the question Billy turned and

looked squarely into Arkwright's face。  She saw;

therefore; the great change that came to it; as

her meaning became clear to him。  Her first

feeling was one of shocked realization that

Arkwright had; indeed; been really blind。  Her

secondshe turned away her eyes hurriedly from

what she thought she saw in the man's countenance。



With an assumedly gay little cry she sprang to

her feet。



‘‘Come; come; what are you two children

chuckling over?'' she demanded; crossing the

room abruptly。  ‘‘Didn't you hear me say I

wanted you to come and sing a quartet?''



Billy blamed herself very much for what she

called her stupidity in so baldly summoning

Arkwright's attention to Calderwell's devotion to

Alice Greggory。  She declared that she ought to

have known better; and she asked herself if this

were the way she was ‘‘furthering matters''

between Alice Greggory and Arkwright。



Billy was really seriously disturbed。  She had

never quite forgiven herself for being so blind to

Arkwright's feeling for herself during those days

when he had not known of her engagement to

Bertram。  She had never forgotten; either; the

painful scene when he had hopefully told of his

love; only to be met with her own shocked

repudiation。  For long weeks after that; his face had

haunted her。  She had wished; oh; so ardently;

that she could do something in some way to bring

him happiness。  When; therefore; it had come to

her knowledge afterward that he was frequently

with his old friend; Alice Greggory; she had been

so glad。  It was very easy then to fan hope into

conviction that here; in this old friend; he had

found sweet balm for his wounded heart; and she

determined at once to do all that she could do to

help。  So very glowing; indeed; was her eagerness

in the matter; that it looked suspiciously as if she

thought; could she but bring this thing about;

that old scores against herself would be erased。



Billy told herself; virtuously; however; that

not only for Arkwright did she desire this marriage

to take place; but for Alice Greggory。  In

the very nature of things Alice would one day be

left alone。  She was poor; and not very strong。 

She sorely needed the shielding love and care of a

good husband。  What more natural than that her

old…time friend and almost…sweetheart; M。 J。

Arkwright; should be that good husband?



That really it was more Arkwright and less

Alice that was being considered; however; was

proved when the devotion of Calderwell began to

be first suspected; then known for a fact。  Billy's

distress at this turn of affairs indicated very

plainly that it was not just a husband; but a

certain one particular husband that she desired

for Alice Greggory。  All the more disturbed was

she; therefore; when to…day; seeing her three

friends together again for the first time for some

weeks; she discovered increased evidence that her

worst fears were to be realized。  It was to be

Alice and Calderwell; not Alice and Arkwright。 

Arkwright was again to be disappointed in his

dearest hopes。



Telling herself indignantly that it could not

be; it _should_ not be; Billy determined to remain

after the men had gone; and speak to Alice。  Just

what she would say she did not know。  Even

what she could say; she was not sure。  But

certainly there must be something; some little thing

that she could say; which would open Alice's eyes

to what she was doing; and what she ought to

do。



It was in this frame of mind; therefore; that

Billy; after Arkwright and Calderwell had gone;

spoke to Alice。  She began warily; with assumed

nonchalance。



‘‘I believe Mr。 Arkwright sings better every

time I hear him。''



There was no answer。  Alice was sorting music

at the piano。



‘‘Don't you think so?'' Billy raised her voice

a little。



Alice turned almost with a start。



‘‘What's that?  Oh; yes。  Well; I don't know;

maybe I do。''



‘‘You wouldif you didn't hear him any

oftener than I do;'' laughed Billy。  ‘‘But then;

of course you do hear him oftener。''



‘‘I?  Oh; no; indeed。  Not so very much

oftener。''  Alice had turned back to her music。 

There was a slight embarrassment in her manner。 

‘‘I wonderwherethat new songis;'' she

murmured。



Billy; who knew very well where the song lay;

was not to be diverted。



‘‘Nonsense!  As if Mr。 Arkwright wasn't

always telling how Alice liked this song; and didn't

like that one; and thought the other the best yet! 

I don't believe he sings a thing that he doesn't

first sing to you。  For that matter; I fancy he

asks your opinion of everything; anyway。''



‘‘Why; Billy; he doesn't!'' exclaimed Alice; a

deep red flaming into her cheeks。  ‘‘You know he

doesn't。''



Billy laughed gleefully。  She had not been slow

to note the color in her friend's face; or to ascribe

to it the one meaning she wished to ascribe to it。 

So sure; indeed; was she now that her fears had

been groundless; that she flung caution to the

winds。



‘‘Ho!  My dear Alice; you can't expect us all

to be blind;'' she teased。  ‘‘Besides; we all think

it's such a lovely arrangement that we're just

glad to see it。  He's such a fine fellow; and we like

him so much!  We couldn't ask for a better husband

for you than Mr。 Arkwright; and''  From

sheer amazement at the sudden white horror

in Alice Greggory's face; Billy stopped short。 

‘‘Why; Alice!'' she faltered then。



With a visible effort Alice forced her trembling

lips to speak。



‘‘My husband_Mr。 Arkwright!_  Why; Billy;

you couldn't have seenyou haven't seen

there's nothing you _could_ see!  He isn'the

wasn'the can't be!  Wewe're nothing but

friends; Billy; just good friends!''



Billy; though dismayed; was still not quite

convinced。



‘‘Friends!  Nonsense!  When''



But Alice interrupted feverishly。  Alice; in an

agony of fear lest the true state of affairs should

be suspected; was hiding behind a bulwark of

pride。



‘‘Now; Billy; please!  Say no more。  You're

quite wrong; entirely。  You'll never; never hear of

my marrying Mr。 Arkwright。  As I said before;

we're friendsthe best of friends; that is all。 

We couldn't be anything else; possibly!''



Billy; plainly discomfited; fell back; but she

threw a sharp glance into her friend's flushed

countenance。



‘‘You meanbecause ofHugh Calderwell?''

she demanded。  Then; for the second time

that afternoon throwing discretion to the winds;

she went on plaintively:  ‘‘You won't listen; of

course。  Girls in love never do。  Hugh is all right;

and I like him; but there's more real solid worth

in Mr。 Arkwright's little finger than there is in

Hugh's whole self。  And''  But a merry peal

of laughter from Alice Greggory interrupted。



‘‘And; pray; do you think I'm in love with

Hugh Calderwell?'' she demanded。  There was

a curious note of something very like relief in her

voice。



‘‘Well; I didn't know;'' began Billy; uncertainly。



‘‘Then I'll tell you now;'' smiled Alice。  ‘‘I'm

not。  Furthermore; perhaps it's just as well that

you should know right now that I don't intend

to marryever。''



‘‘Oh; Alice!''



‘‘No。''  There was determination; and there

was still that curious note of relief in the girl's

voice。  It was as if; somewhere; a great danger

had been avoided。  ‘‘I have my music。  That is

enough。  I'm not intending to marry。''



‘‘Oh; but Alice; while I

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