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should she not make the sacrifice of giving up her career； her
independence； and in that way bring this great joy to Uncle
William's heart？ 。 。 。 Even as she said the 〃Uncle William〃 to
herself； Billy bit her lip and realized that she must no longer say
〃Uncle〃 Williamif she married him。
〃If she married him。〃 The words startled her。 〃If she married
him。〃 。 。 。 Well； what of it？ She would go to live at the Strata；
of course； and there would be Cyril and Bertram。 It might be
awkward； and yetshe did not believe Cyril was in love with
anything but his music； and as to Bertramit was the same with
Bertram and his painting； and he would soon forget that he had ever
fancied he loved her。 After that he would be simply a congenial
friend and companiona good comrade。 As Billy thought of it；
indeed； one of the pleasantest features of this marriage with
William would be the delightful comradeship of her 〃brother；〃
Bertram。
Billy dwelt then at some length on William's love for her； his
longing for her presence； and his dreary years of loneliness。 。 。 。
And he was so good to her； she recollected； he had always been good
to her。 He was older； to be suremuch older than she； but； after
all； it would not be so difficult； so very difficult； to learn to
love him。 At all events； whatever happened； she would have the
supreme satisfaction of knowing that at least she had brought into
dear Unclethat is； into William's life the great peace and joy
that only she could give。
It was almost dawn when Billy arrived at this not uncheerful state
of prospective martyrdom。 She turned over then with a sigh； and
settled herself to sleep。 She was relieved that she had decided
the question。 She was glad that she knew just what to say when
William should speak。 He was a dear； dear man； and she would not
make it hard for him； she promised herself。 She would be William's
wife。
CHAPTER XXXVI
WILLIAM MEETS WITH A SURPRISE
In spite of his sister's confident assurance that the time was ripe
for him to speak to Billy； William delayed some days before
broaching the matter to her。 His courage was not so good as it had
been when he was talking with Kate。 It seemed now； as it always
had； a fearsome thing to try to hasten on this love affair between
Billy and Bertram。 He could not see； in spite of Kate's words；
that Billy showed unmistakable evidence at all of being in love
with his brother。 The more he thought of it； in fact； the more he
dreaded the carrying out of his promise to speak to his namesake。
What should he say； he asked himself。 How could he word it？ He
could not very well accost her with： 〃Oh； Billy； I wish you'd
please hurry up and marry Bertram； because then you'd come and live
with me。〃 Neither could he plead Bertram's cause directly。 Quite
probably Bertram would prefer to plead his own。 Then； too； if
Billy really was not in love with Bertramwhat then？ Might not
his own untimely haste in the matter forever put an end to the
chance of her caring for him？
It was； indeed； a delicate matter； and as William pondered it he
wished himself well out of it； and that Kate had not spoken。 But
even as he formed the wish； William remembered with a thrill Kate's
positive assertion that a word from him would do wonders； and that
now was the time to utter it。 He decided then that he would speak；
that he must speak； but that at the same time he would proceed with
a caution that would permit a hasty retreat if he saw that his
words were not having the desired effect。 He would begin with a
frank confession of his grief at her leaving him； and of his
longing for her return； then very gradually； if wisdom counseled
it； he would go on to speak of Bertram's love for her； and of his
own hope that she would make Bertram and all the Strata glad by
loving him in return。
Mrs。 Hartwell had returned to her Western home before William found
just the opportunity for his talk with Billy。 True to his belief
that only hushed voices and twilight were fitting for such a
subject； he waited until he found the girl early one evening alone
on her vine…shaded veranda。 He noticed that as he seated himself
at her side she flushed a little and half started to rise； with a
nervous fluttering of her hands； and a murmured 〃I'll call Aunt
Hannah。〃 It was then that with sudden courage； he resolved to
speak。
〃Billy； don't go；〃 he said gently； with a touch of his hand on her
arm。 〃There is something I want to say to you。 II have wanted
to say it for some time。〃
〃Why； ofof course；〃 stammered the girl； falling back in her seat。
And again William noticed that odd fluttering of the slim little
hands。
For a time no one spoke； then William began softly； his eyes on the
distant sky…line still faintly aglow with the sunset's reflection。
〃Billy； I want to tell you a story。 Long years ago there was a man
who had a happy home with a young wife and a tiny baby boy in it。
I could not begin to tell you all the plans that man made for that
baby boy。 Such a great and good and wonderful being that tiny baby
was one day to become。 But the babywent away； after a time； and
carried with him all the plansand he never came back。 Behind him
he left empty hearts that ached； and great bare rooms that seemed
always to be echoing sighs and sobs。 And then； one day； such a few
years after； the young wife went to find her baby； and left the man
all alone with the heart that ached and the great bare rooms that
echoed sighs and sobs。
〃Perhaps it was thisthe bareness of the roomsthat made the man
turn to his boyish passion for collecting things。 He wanted to
fill those rooms full； full！so that the sighs and sobs could not
be heard； and he wanted to fill his heart； too； with something that
would still the ache。 And he tried。 Already he had his boyish
treasures； and these he lined up in brave array； but his rooms
still echoed； and his heart still ached； so he built more shelves
and bought more cabinets； and set himself to filling them； hoping
at the same time that he might fill all that dreary waste of hours
outside of businesshours which once had been all too short to
devote to the young wife and the baby boy。
〃One by one the years passed； and one by one the shelves and the
cabinets were filled。 The man fancied； sometimes； that he had
succeeded； but in his heart of hearts he knew that the ache was
merely dulled； and that darkness had only to come to set the rooms
once more to echoing the sighs and sobs。 And thenbut perhaps you
are tired of the story； Billy。〃 William turned with questioning
eyes。
〃No； oh； no；〃 faltered Billy。 〃It is beautiful； but sosad！〃
〃But the saddest part is doneI hope；〃 said William； softly。 〃Let
me tell you。 A wonderful thing happened then。 Suddenly； right out
of a dull gray sky of hopelessness； dropped a little brown…eyed
girl and a little gray cat。 All over the house they frolicked；
filling every nook and cranny with laughter and light and
happiness。 And then； like magic； the man lost the ache in his
heart； and the rooms lost their echoing sighs and sobs。 The man
knew； then； that never again could he hope to fill his hear