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Marie's voice was wistful； in spite of the laughso wistful that
it reminded Billy of their conversation a few weeks before。
〃But it is you； Marie； who want the stockings to darn and the
puddings to make；〃 she retorted playfully。 〃Not I！ And； do you
know？ I believe I shall turn matchmaker yet； and find you a man；
and the chiefest of his qualifications shall be that he's
wretchedly hard on his hose； and that he adores puddings。〃
〃No； no； Miss Billy； don't； please！〃 begged the other； in quick
terror。 〃Forget all I said the other day； please do！ Don't tell
anybody！〃
She was so obviously distressed and frightened that Billy was
puzzled。
〃There； there； 'twas only a jest； of course；〃 she soothed her。
〃But； really Marie； it is the dear； domestic little mouse like
yourself that ought to be somebody's wifeand that's the kind men
are looking for； too。〃
Marie gave a slow shake of her head。
〃Not the kind of man that is somebody； that does something；〃 she
objected； 〃and that's the only kind I couldlove。 HE wants a wife
that is beautiful and clever； that can do things like himselfLIKE
HIMSELF！〃 she iterated feverishly。
Billy opened wide her eyes。
〃Why； Marie； one would thinkyou already knewsuch a man；〃 she
cried。
The little music teacher changed her position； and turned her eyes
away。
〃I do； of course；〃 she retorted in a merry voice； 〃lots of them。
Don't you？ Come； we've discussed my matrimonial prospects quite
long enough；〃 she went on lightly。 〃You know we started with
yours。 Suppose we go back to those。〃
〃But I haven't any；〃 demurred Billy； as she turned with a smile to
greet Aunt Hannah； who had just entered the room。 〃I'm not going
to marry； am I； Aunt Hannah？〃
〃Erwhat？ Marry？ My grief and conscience； what a question；
Billy！ Of course you're going to marrywhen the time comes！〃
exclaimed Aunt Hannah。
Billy laughed and shook her head vigorously。 But even as she
opened her lips to reply； Rosa appeared and announced that Mr。
Calderwell was waiting down…stairs。 Billy was angry then； for
after the maid was gone； the merriment in Aunt Hannah's laugh only
matched that in Marie'sand the intonation was unmistakable。
〃Well； I'm not！〃 declared Billy with pink cheeks and much
indignation； as she left the room。 And as if to convince herself；
Marie； Aunt Hannah； and all the world that such was the case； she
refused Calderwell so decidedly that night when he； for the half…
dozenth time； laid his hand and heart at her feet； that even
Calderwell himself was convincedso far as his own case was
concernedand left town the next day。
Bertram told Aunt Hannah afterward that he understood Mr。 Calderwell
had gone to parts unknown。 To himself Bertram shamelessly owned
that the more 〃unknown〃 they were； the better he himself would be
pleased。
CHAPTER XXX
MARIE FINDS A FRIEND
It was on a very cold January afternoon； and Cyril was hurrying up
the hill toward Billy's house； when he was startled to see a
slender young woman sitting on a curbstone with her head against an
electric…light post。 He stopped abruptly。
〃I beg your pardon； butwhy； Miss Hawthorn！ It is Miss Hawthorn；
isn't it？〃
Under his questioning eyes the girl's pale face became so painfully
scarlet that in sheer pity the man turned his eyes away。 He
thought he had seen women blush before； but he decided now that he
had not。
〃I'm surehaven't I met you at Miss Neilson's？ Are you ill？
Can't I do something for you？〃 he begged。
〃Yesnothat is； I AM Miss Hawthorn； and I've met you at Miss
Neilson's；〃 stammered the girl； faintly。 〃But there isn't
anything； thank you； that you can doMr。 Henshaw。 I stopped to
rest。〃
The man frowned。
〃But； surelypardon me； Miss Hawthorn； but I can't think it your
usual custom to choose an icy curbstone for a resting place； with
the thermometer down to zero。 You must be ill。 Let me take you to
Miss Neilson's。〃
〃No； no； thank you；〃 cried the girl； struggling to her feet； the
vivid red again flooding her face。 〃I have a lessonto give。〃
〃Nonsense！ You're not fit to give a lesson。 Besides； they are all
folderol； anyway； half of them。 A dozen lessons； more or less；
won't make any difference； they'll play just as welland just as
atrociously。 Come； I insist upon taking you to Miss Neilson's。〃
〃No； no； thank you！ I really mustn't。 I〃 She could say no
more。 A strong； yet very gentle hand had taken firm hold of her
arm in such a way as half to support her。 A force quite outside of
herself was carrying her forward step by stepand Miss Hawthorn
was not used to strong； gentle hands； nor yet to a force quite
outside of herself。 Neither was she accustomed to walk arm in arm
with Mr。 Cyril Henshaw to Miss Billy's door。 When she reached
there her cheeks were like red roses for color； and her eyes were
like the stars for brightness。 Yet a minute later； confronted by
Miss Billy's astonished eyes； the stars and the roses fled； and a
very white…faced girl fell over in a deathlike faint in Cyril
Henshaw's arms。
Marie was put to bed in the little room next to Billy's； and was
peremptorily hushed when faint remonstrance was made。 The next
morning； white…faced and wide…eyed； she resolutely pulled herself
half upright； and announced that she was all well and must go home
home to Marie was a six…by…nine hall bed…room in a South End
lodging house。
Very gently Billy pushed her back on the pillow and laid a
detaining hand on her arm。
〃No； dear。 Now； please be sensible and listen to reason。 You are
my guest。 You did not know it； perhaps； for I'm afraid the
invitation got a little delayed。 But you're to stayoh； lots of
weeks。〃
〃Istay here？ Why； I can'tindeed； I can't；〃 protested Marie。
〃But that isn't a bit of a nice way to accept an invitation；〃
disapproved Billy。 〃You should say； 'Thank you； I'd be delighted；
I'm sure； and I'll stay。'〃
In spite of herself the little music teacher laughed； and in the
laugh her tense muscles relaxed。
〃Miss Billy； Miss Billy； what is one to do with you？ Surely you
knowyou must know that I can't do what you ask！〃
〃I'm sure I don't see why not；〃 argued Billy。 〃I'm merely giving
you an invitation and all you have to do is to accept it。〃
〃But the invitation is only the kind way your heart has of covering
another of your many charities；〃 objected Marie； 〃besides； I have
to teach。 I have my living to earn。〃
〃But you can't；〃 demurred the other。 〃That's just the trouble。
Don't you see？ The doctor said last night that you must not teach
again this winter。〃
〃Not teachagainthis winter！ No； no； he could not be so cruel
as that！〃
〃It wasn't cruel； dear； it was kind。 You would be ill if you
attempted it。 Now you'll get better。 He says all you need is rest
and careand that's exactly what I mean my guest shall have。〃
Quick tears came to the sick girl's eyes。
〃There couldn't be a kinder heart than yours； Miss Billy；〃 she
murmured； 〃but I couldn'tI really couldn't be a burden to you
like this。 I shall go to some hospital。〃
〃But you aren't going to be a burden。 You are going to be my
friend and companion。〃
〃A companionand in bed