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money to indulge a passion for traveling； young Calderwell had
spent the most of his time since graduation in daring trips into
the heart of almost impenetrable forests； or to the top of almost
inaccessible mountains； with an occasional more ordinary trip to
give variety。 He had now come to the point； however； where he was
determined to 〃settle down to something that meant something；〃 he
told the Henshaws； as the four men smoked in Bertram's den after
dinner。
〃Yes； sir； I have；〃 he iterated。 〃And； by the way； the little girl
that has set me to thinking in such good earnest is a friend of
yours； too；Miss Neilson。 I met her in Paris。 She was on our
yacht all last summer。〃
Three men sat suddenly erect in their chairs。
〃Billy？〃 cried three voices。 〃Do you know Billy？〃
〃To be sure！ And you do； too； she says。〃
〃Oh； no； we don't；〃 disputed Bertram； emphatically。 〃But we WISH
we did！〃
His guest laughed。
〃Well； I fancy you DO know her； or you wouldn't have answered like
that；〃 he retorted。 〃For you just begin to know Miss Billy when
you find out that you DON'T know her。 She is a charming girla
very charming girl。〃
〃She is my namesake；〃 announced William； in what Bertram called his
〃finest ever〃 voice that he used only for the choicest bits in his
collections。
〃Yes； she told me；〃 smiled Calderwell。 〃'Billy' for 'William。'
Odd idea； too； but clever。 It helps to distinguish her even more
though she doesn't need it； for that matter。〃
〃'Doesn't need it；'〃 echoed William in a puzzled voice。
〃No。 Perhaps you don't know； Mr。 Henshaw； but Miss Billy is a very
popular young woman。 You have reason to be proud of your namesake。〃
〃I have always been that；〃 declared William； with just a touch of
hauteur。
〃Tell us about her；〃 begged Bertram。 〃You remember I said that we
wished we did know her。〃
Calderwell smiled。
〃I don't believe； after all； that you do know much about her；〃 he
began musingly。 〃Billy is not one who talks much of herself； I
fancy； in her letters。〃
William frowned。 This time there was more than a touch of hauteur
in his voice。
〃MISS NEILSON is not one to show vanity anywhere；〃 he said； with
suggestive emphasis on the name。
〃Indeed she isn't；〃 agreed Calderwell； heartily。 〃She is a fine
girlquite one of the finest I know； in fact。〃
There was an uncomfortable silence。 Over in the corner Cyril
puffed at his cigar with an air almost of boredom。 He had not
spoken since his first surprised questioning with the others； 〃Do
you know Billy？〃 William was still frowning。 Even Bertram wore a
look that was not quite satisfied。
〃Miss Neilson has spent two winters in Paris now； you know；〃
resumed Calderwell； after a moment； 〃and she is very popular both
with the American colony； and with the other students。 As for her
'Aunt Hannah'they all make a pet of her； but that is； perhaps；
because Billy herself is so devoted。〃
Again William frowned at the familiar 〃Billy〃； but Calderwell
talked on unheeding。
〃After all； I'm not sure but some of us regard 'Aunt Hannah' with
scant favor； occasionally；〃 he laughed； 〃something as if she were
the dragon that guarded the princess； you know。 Miss Billy IS
popular with the men； and she has suitors enough to turn any girl's
headbut her own。〃
〃Suitors！〃 cried William； plainly aghast。 〃Why； Billy's nothing
but a child！〃
Calderwell gave an odd smile。
〃How long is it since you've seenMiss Neilson？〃 he asked。
〃Two years。〃
〃And then only for a few minutes just before she sailed；〃 amended
Bertram。 〃We haven't really seen much of her since three years
ago。〃
〃Hm…m； well； you'll see for yourself soon。 You know she's coming
home next month。〃
Not one of the brothers did know itbut not one of them intended
that Calderwell should find out that they did not。
〃Yes； she's coming home；〃 said William； lifting his chin a little。
〃Oh； yes； next month；〃 added Bertram； nonchalantly。
Even Cyril across the room was not to be outdone。
〃Yes。 Miss Neilson comes home next month；〃 he said。
CHAPTER XXI
BILLY； THE REALITY
Very early in May came the cheery letter from Billy herself
announcing the news of her intended return。
〃And I shall be so glad to see you all；〃 she wrote in closing。 〃It
seems so long since I left America。〃 Then she signed her name with
〃kindest regards to all〃Billy did not send 〃love to all〃 any
more。
William at once began to make plans for his namesake's comfort。
〃But； Will； she didn't say she was coming here；〃 Bertram reminded
him。
〃She didn't need to；〃 smiled William； confidently。 〃She just took
it for granted； of course。 This is her home。〃
〃But it hasn't beenfor years。 She's called Hampden Falls 'home。'〃
〃I know； but that was before；〃 demurred William； his eyes a little
anxious。 〃Besides； they've sold the house now； you know。 There's
nowhere for her to go but here； Bertram。〃
〃All right；〃 acquiesced the younger man； still doubtingly。 〃Maybe
that's so； maybe！ But〃 he did not finish his sentence； and his
eyes were troubled as he watched his brother begin to rearrange
Billy's rooms。 In time； however； so sure was William of Billy's
return to the Beacon Street house； that Bertram ceased to question；
and； with almost as much confidence as William himself displayed；
he devoted his energies to the preparations for Billy's arrival。
And what preparations they were！ Even Cyril helped this time to
the extent of placing on Billy's piano a copy of his latest book；
and a pile of new music。 Nor were the melodies that floated down
from the upper floor akin to funeral marches； they were perilously
near to being allied to 〃ragtime。〃
At last everything was ready。 There was not one more bit of dust
to catch Pete's eye； nor one more adornment that demanded William's
careful hand to adjust。 In Billy's rooms new curtains graced the
windows and new rugs the floors。 In Mrs。 Stetson's； too； similar
changes had been made。 The latest and best 〃Face of a Girl〃 smiled
at one from above Billy's piano； and the very rarest of William's
treasures adorned the mantelpiece。 No guns nor knives nor fishing…
rods met the eyes now。 Instead； at every turn； there was a hint of
feminine tastes： a mirror； a workbasket； a low sewing…chair； a
stand with a tea tray。 And everywhere were roses； up…stairs and
down…stairs； until the air was heavy with their perfume。 In the
dining…room Pete was again 〃swinging back and forth like a
pendulum；〃 it is true； but it was a cheerful pendulum to…day；
anxious only that no time should be lost。 In the kitchen alone was
there unhappiness； and there because Dong Ling had already spoiled
a whole cake of chocolate in a vain attempt to make Billy's
favorite fudge。 Even Spunkie； grown now to be sleek； lazy； and
majestically indifferent； was in holiday attire； for a brand…new
pink bow of huge dimensions adorned his fat neckfor the first
time in many months。
〃You see；〃 William had explained to Bertram； 〃I put on that ribbon
again because I thought it would make Spunkie seem more homelike；
and more like Spunk。 You know there wasn't anything Billy missed
so much as that kitten when s