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preventthat！〃
On the drive Kate began to talk at once； but she did not plunge
into the subject nearest her heart until she had adroitly led
William into a glowing enumeration of Billy's many charming
characteristics； then she said：
〃William； why don't you take Billy home with you？〃
William stirred uneasily as he always did when anything annoyed
him。
〃My dear Kate； there is nothing I should like better to do；〃 he
replied。
〃Then why don't you do it？〃
〃Ihope to； sometime。〃
〃But why not now？〃
〃I'm afraid Billy is not quiteready。〃
〃Nonsense！ A young girl like that does not know her own mind lots
of times。 Just press the matter a little。 Love will work wonders
sometimes。〃
William blushed like a girl。 To him her words had but one meaning
Bertram's love for Billy。 William had never spoken of this
suspected love affair to any one。 He had even thought that he was
the only one that had discovered it。 To hear his sister refer thus
lightly to it came therefore in the nature of a shock to him。
〃Then you haveseen ittoo？〃 he stammered
〃'Seen it； too；'〃 laughed Kate； with her confident eyes on
William's flushed face； 〃I should say I had seen it！ Any one could
see it。〃
William blushed again。 Love to him had always been something
sacred； something that called for hushed voices and twilight。
This merry discussion in the sunlight of even another's love was
disconcerting。
〃Now come； William；〃 resumed Kate； after a moment； 〃speak to Billy；
and have the matter settled once for all。 It's worrying you。 I
can see it is。〃
Again William stirred uneasily。
〃But； Kate； I can't do anything。 I told you before； I don't
believe Billy isready。〃
〃Nonsense！ Ask her。〃
〃But Kate； a girl won't marry against her will！〃
〃I don't believe it is against her will。〃
〃Kate！ Honestly？〃
〃Honestly！ I've watched her。〃
〃Then I WILL speak；〃 cried the man； his face alight； 〃ifif you
think anything I can say wouldhelp。 There is nothingnothing in
all this world that I so desire； Kate； as to have that little girl
back home。 And of course that would do it。 She'd live there； you
know。〃
〃Why； ofcourse；〃 murmured Kate； with a puzzled frown。 There was
something in this last remark of William's that she did not quite
understand。 Surely he could not suppose that she had any idea that
after he had married Billy they would go to live anywhere else；
she thought。 For a moment she considered the matter vaguely； then
she turned her attention to something else。 She was the more ready
to do this because she believed that she had said enough for the
present： it was well to sow seeds； but it was also well to let them
have a chance to grow； she told herself。
Mrs。 Hartwell's next move was to speak to Billy； and she was
careful to do this at once； so that she might pave the way for
William。
She began her conversation with an ingratiating smile and the
words：
〃Well； Billy； I've been doing a little detective work on my own
account。〃
〃Detective work？〃
〃Yes； about William。 You know I told you the other day how
troubled and anxious he looked to me。 Well； I've found out what's
the matter。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Yourself。〃
〃Myself！ Why； Mrs。 Hartwell； what can you mean？〃
The elder lady smiled significantly。
〃Oh； it's merely another case； my dear； of 'faint heart never won
fair lady。' I've been helping on the faint heart； that's all。〃
〃But I don't understand。〃
〃No？ I can't believe you quite mean that； my dear。 Surely you
must know how earnestly my brother William is longing for you to go
back and live with him。〃
Like William； Billy flushed scarlet。
〃Mrs。 Hartwell； certainly no one could know better than YOURSELF
why that is quite impossible；〃 she frowned。
The other colored confusedly。
〃I understand； of course； what you mean。 And； Billy； I'll confess
that I've been sorry lots of times； since； that I spoke as I did to
you； particularly when I saw how it grieved my brother William to
have you go away。 If I blundered then； I'm sorry； and perhaps I
did blunder。 At all events； that is only the more reason now why I
am so anxious to do what I can to rectify that old mistake； and
plead William's suit。〃
To Mrs。 Hartwell's blank amazement； Billy laughed outright。
〃'William's suit'！〃 she quoted merrily。 〃Why； Mrs。 Hartwell； there
isn't any 'suit' to it。 Uncle William doesn't want me to marry
him！〃
〃Indeed he does。〃
Billy stopped laughing； and sat suddenly erect。
〃MRS。 HARTWELL！〃
〃Billy； is it possible that you did not know this？〃
〃Indeed I don't know it； andexcuse me； but I don't think you do；
either。〃
〃But I do。 I've talked with him； and he's very much in earnest；〃
urged Mrs。 Hartwell； speaking very rapidly。 〃He says there's
nothing in all the world that he so desires。 And； Billy； you do
care for himI know you do！〃
〃Why； of course I care for himbut notthat way。〃
〃But； Billy； think！〃 Mrs。 Hartwell was very earnest now； and a
little frightened。 She felt that she must bring Billy to terms in
some way now that William had been encouraged to put his fate to
the test。 〃Just remember how good William has always been to you；
and think what you have been； and may BEif you only willin his
lonely life。 Think of his great sorrow years ago。 Think of this
dreary waste of years between。 Think how now his heart has turned
to you for love and comfort and rest。 Billy； you can't turn away！
you can't find it in your heart to turn away from that dear； good
man who loves you so！〃 Mrs。 Hartwell's voice shook effectively；
and even her eyes looked through tears。 Mentally she was
congratulating herself： she had not supposed she could make so
touching an appeal。
In the chair opposite the girl sat very still。 She was pale； and
her eyes showed a frightened questioning in their depths。 For a
long minute she said nothing； then she rose dazedly to her feet。
〃Mrs。 Hartwell； please do not speak of this to any one；〃 she begged
in a low voice。 〃II am taken quite by surprise。 I shall have to
think it outalone。〃
Billy did not sleep well that night。 Always before her eyes was
the vision of William's face； and always in her ears was the echo
of Mrs。 Hartwell's words： 〃Remember how good William has always
been to you。 Think of his great sorrow years ago。 Think of this
dreary waste of years between。 Think how now his heart has turned
to you for love and comfort and rest。〃
For a time Billy tossed about on her bed trying to close her eyes
to the vision and her ears to the echo。 Then； finding that neither
was possible； she set herself earnestly to thinking the matter out。
William loved her。 Extraordinary as it seemed； such was the fact；
Mrs。 Hartwell said so。 And nowwhat must she do； what could she
do？ She loved no oneof that she was very sure。 She was even
beginning to think that she would never love any one。 There were
Calderwell； Cyril； Bertram； to say nothing of sundry others； who
had loved her； apparently； but whom she could not love。 Such being
the case； if she were； indeed； incapable of love herself； why
should she not make the sacrifice of giving up her career； her
ind