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growing anxious again。 〃But Heaven only knows what I'm going to do
with him when I get him。 What shall I say to him； anyway？ How
shall I write？ I don't know how to get up a letter of that sort！〃
〃Why not take him at his word and telegraph？ I fancy you won't
have to say 'come' but once before you see him。 He doesn't seem to
be a bashful youth。〃
〃Hm…m； I might do that；〃 acquiesced William； slowly。 〃But wasn't
there somebodya lawyergoing to write to me？〃 he finished；
consulting the letter by his plate。 〃Yes；〃 he added； after a
moment； 〃a Mr。 Harding。 Wonder if he's any relation to Ned
Harding。 I used to know Ned at Harvard； and seems as if he came
from Hampden Falls。 We'll soon see； at all events。 Maybe I'll
hear to…morrow。〃
〃I shouldn't wonder；〃 nodded Bertram； as he rose from the table。
〃Anyhow； I wouldn't do anything till I did hear。〃
CHAPTER IV
BILLY SENDS A TELEGRAM
James Harding's letter very promptly followed Billy's； though it
was not like Billy's at all。 It told something of Billy's
property； and mentioned that； according to Mrs。 Neilson's will；
Billy would not come into control of her fortune until the age of
twenty…one years was reached。 It dwelt at some length upon the
fact of Billy's loneliness in the world； and expressed the hope
that her father's friend could find it in his heart to welcome the
orphan into his home。 It mentioned Ned； and the old college
friendship； and it closed by saying that the writer； James Harding；
was glad to renew his acquaintance with the good old Henshaw family
that he had known long years ago； and that he hoped soon to hear
from William Henshaw himself。
It was a good letterbut it was not well written。 James Harding's
handwriting was not distinguished for its legibility； and his
correspondents rejoiced that the most of his letters were dictated
to his stenographer。 In this case； however； he had elected to use
the more personal pen； and it was because of this that William
Henshaw； even after reading the letter； was still unaware of his
mistake in supposing his namesake； Billy； to be a boy。
In the main the lawyer had referred to Billy by name； or as 〃the
orphan；〃 or as that 〃poor； lonely child。〃 And whenever the more
distinctive feminine 〃her〃 or 〃herself〃 had occurred； the
carelessly formed letters had made them so much like 〃his〃 and
〃himself〃 that they carried no hint of the truth to a man who had
not the slightest reason for thinking himself in the wrong。 It was
therefore still for the 〃boy；〃 Billy； that William Henshaw at once
set about making a place in the home。
First he telegraphed the single word 〃Come〃 to Billy。
〃I'll set the poor lad's heart at rest；〃 he said to Bertram。 〃I
shall answer Harding's letter more at length； of course。 Naturally
he wants to know something about me now before he sends Billy
along； but there is no need for the boy to wait before he knows
that I'll take him。 Of course he won't come yet； till Harding
hears from me。〃
It was just here； however； that William Henshaw met with a
surprise； for within twenty…four hours came Billy's answer； and by
telegraph。
〃I'm coming to…morrow。 Train due at five P。 M。
〃BILLY。〃
William Henshaw did not know that in Hampden Falls Billy's trunk
had been packed for days。 Billy was desperate。 The house； even
with the maid； and with the obliging neighbor and his wife who
stayed there nights； was to Billy nothing but a dismal tomb。
Lawyer Harding had fallen suddenly ill； she could not even tell him
that the blessed telegram 〃Come〃 had arrived。 Hence Billy； lonely；
impulsive； and always used to pleasing herself； had taken matters
in hand with a confident grasp； and had determined to wait no
longer。
That it was a fearsomely unknown future to which she was so
jauntily pledging herself did not trouble the girl in the least。
Billy was romantic。 To sally gaily forth with a pink in the
buttonhole of her coat to find her father's friend who was a
〃Billy〃 too； seemed to Billy Neilson not only delightful； but
eminently sensible； and an excellent way out of her present
homesick loneliness。 So she bought the pink and her ticket； and
impatiently awaited the time to start。
To the Beacon Street house； Billy's cheerful telegram brought the
direst consternation。 Even Kate was hastily summoned to the family
conclave that immediately resulted。
〃There's nothingsimply nothing that I can do；〃 she declared
irritably； when she had heard the story。 〃Surely； you don't expect
ME to take the boy！〃
〃No； no； of course not；〃 sighed William。 〃But you see； I supposed
I'd have time toto get used to things； and to make arrangements；
and this is soso sudden！ I hadn't even answered Harding's letter
until to…day； and he hasn't got thatmuch less replied to it。〃
〃But what could you expect after sending that idiotic telegram？〃
demanded the lady。 〃'Come；' indeed！〃
〃But that's what Billy told me to do。〃
〃What if it was？ Just because a foolish eighteen…year…old boy
tells you to do something； must you； a supposedly sensible forty…
year…old man obey？〃
〃I think it tickled Will's romantic streak；〃 laughed Bertram。 〃It
seemed so sort of alluring to send that one word 'Come' out into
space； and watch what happened。〃
〃Well； he's found out； certainly；〃 observed Cyril； with grim
satisfaction。
〃Oh； no； it hasn't happened yet；〃 corrected Bertram； cheerfully。
〃It's just going to happen。 William's got to put on the pink
first； you know。 That's the talisman。〃
William reddened。
〃Bertram； don't be foolish。 I sha'n't wear any pink。 You must
know that。〃
〃How'll you find him； then？〃
〃Why； he'll have one on； that's enough；〃 settled William。
〃Hm…m； maybe。 Then he'll have Spunk； too；〃 murmured Bertram；
mischievously。
〃Spunk！〃 cried Kate。
〃Yes。 He wrote that he hoped we wouldn't mind his bringing Spunk
with him。〃
〃Who's Spunk？
〃We don't know。〃 Bertram's lips twitched。
〃You don't know！ What do you mean？〃
〃Well； Will thinks it's a dog； and I believe Cyril is anticipating
a monkey。 I myself am backing it for a parrot。〃
〃Boys； what have you done！〃 groaned Kate； falling back in her
chair。 〃What have you done！〃
To William her words were like an electric shock stirring him to
instant action。 He sprang abruptly to his feet。
〃Well； whatever we've done； we've done it；〃 he declared sternly；
〃and now we must do the restand do it well； too。 He's the son of
my boyhood's dearest friend； and he shall be made welcome。 Now to
business！ Bertram； you said you'd take him in。 Did you mean it？〃
Bertram sobered instantly； and came erect in his chair。 William
did not often speak like this； but when he did
〃Yes； Will。 He shall have the little bedroom at the end of the
hall。 I never used the room much； anyhow； and what few duds I have
there shall be cleared out to…morrow。〃
〃Good！ Now there are some other little details to arrange； then
I'll go down…stairs and tell Pete and Dong Ling。 And； please to
understand； we're going to make this lad welcomewelcome； I say！〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Bertram。 Neither Kate nor Cyril spoke。
CHAPTER V
GETTING READY FOR BILLY