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Very soon after William had first seen Billy； he began to lay
wonderful plans； and in every plan was Billy。 She was not his
child by flesh and blood； he acknowledged； but she was his by right
of love and needed care。 In fancy he looked straight down the
years ahead； and everywhere he saw Billy； a loving； much…loved
daughter； the joy of his life； the solace of his declining years。
To no one had William talked of thisand to no one did he show
the bitterness of his grief when he saw his vision fade into
nothingness through Billy's unchanging refusal to live in his home。
Only he himself knew the heartache； the loneliness； the almost
unbearable longing of the past winter months while Billy had lived
at Hillside； and only he himself knew now the almost overwhelming
joy that was his because of what he thought he saw in Billy's
changed attitude toward himself。
Great as was William's joy； however； his caution was greater。 He
said nothing to Billy of his new hopes； though he did try to pave
the way by dropping an occasional word about the loneliness of the
Beacon Street house since she went away。 There was something else；
too； that caused William to be silentwhat he thought he saw
between Billy and Bertram。 That Bertram was in love with Billy； he
guessed； but that Billy was not in love with Bertram he very much
feared。 He hesitated almost to speak or move lest something he
should say or do should； just at the critical moment； turn matters
the wrong way。 To William this marriage of Bertram and Billy was
an ideal method of solving the problem； as of course Billy would
come there to the house to live； and he would have his 〃daughter〃
after all。 But as the days passed； and he could see no progress on
Bertram's part； no change in Billy； he began to be seriously
worriedand to show it。
CHAPTER XXXIV
CLASS DAY
Early in June Billy announced her intention of not going away at
all that summer。
〃I don't need it；〃 she declared。 〃I have this cool； beautiful
house； this air； this sunshine； this adorable view。 Besides； I've
got a scheme I mean to carry out。〃
There was some consternation among Billy's friends when they found
out what this 〃scheme〃 was： sundry of Billy's humbler acquaintances
were to share the house； the air； the sunshine； and the adorable
view with her。
〃But； my dear Billy；〃 Bertram cried； aghast； 〃you don't mean to say
that you are going to turn your beautiful little house into a
fresh…air place for Boston's slum children！〃
〃Not a bit of it；〃 smiled the girl； 〃though I'd like to； really； if
I could；〃 she added； perversely。 〃But this is quite another thing。
It's no slum work； no charity。 In the first place my guests aren't
quite so poor as that； and they're much too proud to be reached by
the avowed charity worker。 But they need it just the same。〃
〃But you haven't much spare room； have you？〃 questioned Bertram。
〃No； unfortunately； so I shall have to take only two or three at a
time； and keep them maybe a week or ten days。 It's just a sugar
plum； Bertram。 Truly it is；〃 she added whimsically； but with a
tender light in her eyes。
〃But who are these people？〃 Bertram's face had lost its look of
shocked surprise； and his voice expressed genuine interest。
〃Well； to begin with； there's Marie。 She'll stay all summer and
help me entertain my guests； at the same time her duties won't be
arduous； and she'll get a little playtime herself。 One week I'm
going to have a little old maid who keeps a lodging house in the
West End。 For uncounted years she's been practically tied to a
doorbell； with never a whole day to breathe free。 I've made
arrangements there for a sister to keep house a whole week； and I'm
going to show this little old maid things she hasn't seen for
years： the ocean； the green fields； and a summer play or two；
perhaps。
〃Then there's a little couple that live in a third…story flat in
South Boston。 They're young and like good times； but the man is on
a small salary； and they have had lots of sickness。 He's been out
so much he can't take any vacation； and they wouldn't have any
money to go anywhere if he could。 Well； I'm going to have them a
week。 She'll be here all the time； and he'll come out at night； of
course。
〃Another one is a widow with six children。 The children are
already provided for by a fresh…air society； but the woman I'm
going to take； andand give her a whole week of food that she
didn't have to cook herself。 Another one is a woman who is not so
very poor； but who has lost her baby； and is blue and discouraged。
There are some children； too； one crippled； and a boy who says he's
'just lonesome。' And there arereally； Bertram； there is no end
to them。〃
〃I can well believe that；〃 declared Bertram； with emphasis； 〃so far
as your generous heart is concerned。〃
Billy colored and looked distressed。
〃But it isn't generosity or charity at all； Bertram；〃 she protested。
〃You are mistaken when you think it isreally！ Why； I shall enjoy
every bit of it just as well as they doand better； perhaps。〃
〃But you stay herein the cityall summer for their sakes。〃
〃What if I do？ Besides； this isn't the real city；〃 argued Billy；
〃with all these trees and lawns about one。 And another thing；〃 she
added； leaning forward confidentially； 〃I might as well confess；
Bertram； you couldn't hire me to leave the place this summernot
while all these things I planted are coming up！〃
Bertram laughed； but for some reason he looked wonderfully happy as
he turned away。
On the fifteenth of June Kate and her husband arrived from the
West。 A young brother of Mr。 Hartwell's was to be graduated from
Harvard； and Kate said they had come on to represent the family； as
the elder Mr。 and Mrs。 Hartwell were not strong enough to undertake
the journey。 Kate was looking well and happy。 She greeted Billy
with effusive cordiality； and openly expressed her admiration of
Hillside。 She looked very keenly into her brothers' face； and
seemed well pleased with the appearance of Cyril and Bertram； but
not so much so with William's countenance。
〃William does NOT look well；〃 she declared one day when she and
Billy were alone together。
〃Sick？ Uncle William sick？ Oh； I hope not！〃 cried the girl。
〃I don't know whether it's 'sick' or not；〃 returned Mrs。 Hartwell。
〃But it's something。 He's troubled。 I'm going to speak to him。
He's worried over something； and he's grown terribly thin。〃
〃But he's always thin；〃 reasoned Billy。
〃I know； but not like thisever。 You don't notice it； perhaps； or
realize it； seeing him every day as you do。 But I know something
troubles him。〃
〃Oh； I hope not；〃 murmured Billy； with anxious eyes。 〃We don't
want Uncle William troubled： we all love him too well。〃
Mrs。 Hartwell did not at once reply； but for a long minute she
thoughtfully studied Billy's face as it was bent above the sewing
in Billy's hand。 When she did speak she had changed the subject。
Young Hartwell was to deliver the Ivy Oration in the Stadium on
Class Day； and all the Henshaws were looking eagerly forward to the
occasion。
〃You have seen the Stadium； of course；〃 said Bertram to Billy；