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Iquestioned her a little。〃
〃What did she say？〃
〃She seemed so frightened and distressed that I didn't say much
myself。 I couldn't。 I had but just begun when her eyes filled
with tears； and she asked me in a frightened little voice if she
had done anything to displease me； anything to make me unhappy； and
she seemed so anxious and grieved and dismayed that I should even
question her； that I had to stop。〃
〃What has she done this summer？ Where has she been？〃
〃She hasn't been anywhere。 Didn't I write you？ She's kept open
house for a lot of her less fortunate friendsa sort of vacation
home； you know； andand I must say she's given them a world of
happiness； too。〃
〃But wasn't that hard for her？〃
〃It didn't seem to be。 She appeared to enjoy it immensely；
particularly at first。 Of course she had plenty of help； and that
wonderful little Miss Hawthorn has been a host in herself。 They're
all gone now； anyway； except Miss Hawthorn。〃
〃But Billy must have had the care and the excitement。〃
〃Perhapsto a certain extent。 Though not much； after all。 You
see Bertram； too； has given up his summer to them； and has been
playing the devoted escort to the whole bunch。 Indeed； for the
last few weeks of it； since Billy began to seem so ill； he and Miss
Hawthorn have schemed to take all the care from Billy； and they
have done the whole thing together。〃
〃But what HAS Billy done to make her like this？〃
〃I don't know。 She's done lots for me； in all sorts of ways
cataloguing my curios； you know； and going with me to hunt up
things。 In fact； she seems the happiest when she IS doing
something for me。 It's come to be a sort of mania with her； I'm
afraidto do something for me。 Kate； I'm really worried。 What do
you suppose is the matter？〃
Kate shook her head。 The puzzled frown had come back to her face。
〃I can't imagine；〃 she began slowly。 〃Of course； when I told her
you loved her and〃
〃When you told her wha…at？〃 exploded the usually low…voiced
William； with sudden sharpness。
〃When I told her that you loved her； William。 You see； I〃
William sprang to his feet。
〃Told her that I loved her！〃 he cried； aghast。 〃Good heavens；
Kate； do you mean to say that YOU told her THAT。〃
〃Why； y…yes。〃
〃And may I ask where you got your information？〃
〃Why； William Henshaw； what a question！ I got it from yourself； of
course；〃 defended Kate。
〃From ME！〃 William's face expressed sheer amazement。
〃Certainly； on that drive when I was East in June；〃 returned Kate；
with dignity。 〃YOU evidently have forgotten it； but I have not。
You told me very frankly how much you thought of her； and how you
longed to have her back there with you； but that she didn't seem to
be ready to come。 I was sorry for you； and I wanted to do
something to help； particularly as it might have been my fault；
partly； that she went away； in the first place。〃
William lifted his head。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Why； nothing； only that II told her a little of howhow
upsetting her arrival had been to everything； and of how much you
had done for her； and put yourself out。 I said it so she'd
appreciate things； of course； but she took it quite differently
from what I had intended she should take it； and seemed quite cut
up about it。 Then she went away in that wily； impulsive fashion。〃
William bit his lip； but he did not speak。 Kate was plunging on
feverishly； and in the face of the greater revelation he let the
lesser one drop。
〃And so that's why I was particularly anxious to bring things
around right again；〃 continued Kate。 〃And that's why I spoke。 I
thought I'd seen how things were； and on the drive I said so。 Then
is when I advised you to speak to Billy； but you declared that
Billy wasn't ready； and that you couldn't make a girl marry against
her will。 NOW don't you recollect it？〃
A great light of understanding broke over William's face。 He
started to speak； but something evidently stayed the words on his
lips。 With controlled deliberation he turned and sat down。 Then
he said：
〃Kate； will you kindly tell me just what you DID do？〃
〃Why； I didn't do so very much。 I just tried to help； that's all。
After I talked with you； and advised you to ask Billy right away to
marry you； I went to her。 I thought she cared for you already；
anyway； but I just wanted to tell her how very much it was to you；
and so sort of pave the way。 And now comes the part that I started
to tell you a little while ago when you caught me up so sharply。 I
was going to say that when I told Billy this； she appeared to be
surprised； and almost frightened。 You see； she hadn't known you
cared for her； after all； and so I had a chance to help and make it
plain to her how you did love her； so that when you spoke everything
would be all right。 There； that's all。 You see I didn't do so
very much。〃
〃'So very much'！〃 groaned William； starting to his feet。 〃Great
Scott！〃
〃Why； William； what do you mean？ Where are you going？〃
〃I'm goingtoBilly；〃 retorted William with slow distinctness。
〃And I'm going to try to get therebeforeyouCAN！〃 And with
this extraordinary shotfor Williamhe left the house。
William went to Billy as fast as steam could carry him。 He found
her in her little drawing…room listlessly watching with Aunt Hannah
the game of chess that Bertram and Marie were playing。
〃Billy； you poor； dear child； come here；〃 he said abruptly； as soon
as the excitement of his unexpected arrival had passed。 〃I want to
talk to you。〃 And he led the way to the veranda which he knew
would be silent and deserted。
〃To talk tome？〃 murmured Billy； as she wonderingly came to his
side； a startled questioning in her wide dark eyes。
CHAPTER XLI
THE CROOKED MADE STRAIGHT
William did not re…enter the house after his talk with Billy on the
veranda。
〃I will go down the steps and around by the rose garden to the
street； dear；〃 he said。 〃I'd rather not go in now。 Just make my
adieus； please； and say that I couldn't stay any longer。 And now
good…by。〃 His eyes as they looked down at her； were moist and very
tender。 His lips trembled a little； but they smiled； and there was
a look of new…born peace and joy on his face。
Billy； too； was smiling； though wistfully。 The frightened
questioning had gone from her eyes； leaving only infinite
tenderness。
〃You are sure itit is all rightnow？〃 she stammered。
〃Very sure； little girl； and it's the first time it has been right
for weeks。 Billy； that was very dear of you； and I love you for
it； but think how nearhow perilously near you came to lifelong
misery！〃
〃But I thoughtyou wanted meso much；〃 she smiled shyly。
〃And I did； and I dofor a daughter。 You don't doubt that NOW？〃
〃No； oh； no；〃 laughed Billy； softly； and to her face came a happy
look of relief as she finished： 〃And I'll be so glad to bethe
daughter！〃
For some minutes after the man had gone； Billy stood by the steps
where he had left her。 She was still there when Bertram came to
the veranda door and spoke to her。
〃Billy； I saw William go by the window； so I knew you were alone。
May I speak to you？〃
The girl turned with a start。
〃