按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
whose family from boyhood has stood at attention
and saluted if he so much as looked at them；
it must be quite a change； as things are now。
However； it'll be different； of course； when Marie
is on her feet again。''
‘‘Does she know at all how things are going？''
‘‘Not very much； as yet； though I believe she
has begun to worry some。 She confided to me
one day that she was glad； of course； that she
had two darling babies； instead of one； but
that she was afraid it might be hard； just at first；
to teach them both at once to be quiet； for
she was afraid that while she was teaching one；
the other would be sure to cry； or do something
noisy。''
‘‘Do something noisy； indeed！'' ejaculated
Aunt Hannah。
‘‘As for the real state of affairs； Marie doesn't
dream that Cyril's sacred den is given over to
Teddy bears and baby blankets。 All is； I hope
she'll be measurably strong before she does find
it out；'' laughed Billy； as she rose to go。
CHAPTER XX
ARKWRIGHT'S EYES ARE OPENED
William came back from his business trip the
eighth of July； and on the ninth Billy and Bertram
went to New York。 Eliza's mother was so
well now that Eliza had taken up her old quarters
in the Strata； and the household affairs were
once more running like clockwork。 Later in the
season William would go away for a month's
fishing trip； and the house would be closed。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Bertram Henshaw were not
expected to return until the first of October； but
with Eliza to look after the comfort of William；
the mistress of the house did no worrying。 Ever
since Pete's going； Eliza had said that she
preferred to be the only maid； with a charwoman to
come in for the heavier work； and to this arrangement
her mistress had willingly consented； for the
present。
Marie and the babies were doing finely； and
Aunt Hannah's health； and affairs at the Annex；
were all that could be desired。 As Billy； indeed；
saw it； there was only one flaw to mar her perfect
content on this holiday trip with Bertram； and
that was her disappointment over the very evident
disaster that had come to her cherished
matrimonial plans for Arkwright and Alice
Greggory。 She could not forget Arkwright's face that
day at the Annex； when she had so foolishly called
his attention to Calderwell's devotion； and she
could not forget； either； Alice Greggory's very
obvious perturbation a little later； and her
suspiciously emphatic assertion that she had no
intention of marrying any one； certainly not
Arkwright。 As Billy thought of all this now； she
could not but admit that it did look dark for
Arkwrightpoor Arkwright； whom she； more
than any one else in the world； perhaps； had a
special reason for wishing to see happily married。
There was； then； this one cloud on Billy's
horizon as the big boat that was to bear her across
the water steamed down the harbor that beautiful
July day。
As it chanced； naturally； perhaps； not only was
Billy thinking of Arkwright that morning； but
Arkwright was thinking of Billy。
Arkwright had thought frequently of Billy
during the last few days； particularly since that
afternoon meeting at the Annex when the four
had renewed their old good times together。 Up
to that day Arkwright had been trying not to
think of Billy。 He had been ‘‘fighting his tiger
skin。'' Sternly he had been forcing himself to
meet her； to see her； to talk with her； to sing with
her； or to pass her byall with the indifference
properly expected to be shown in association with
Mrs。 Bertram Henshaw； another man's wife。 He
had known； of course； that deep down in his heart
he loved her； always had loved her； and always
would love her。 Hopelessly and drearily he
accepted this as a fact even while with all his might
fighting that tiger skin。 So sure was he； indeed；
of this； so implicitly had he accepted it as an
unalterable certainty； that in time even his efforts
to fight it became almost mechanical and unconscious
in their stern round of forced indifference。
Then came that day at the Annexand the
discovery： the discovery which he had made
when Billy called his attention to Calderwell and
Alice Greggory across the room in the corner；
the discovery which had come with so blinding a
force； and which even now he was tempted to
question as to its reality； the discovery that not
Billy Neilson； nor Mrs。 Bertram Henshaw； nor
even the tender ghost of a lost love held the
center of his heartbut Alice Greggory。
The first intimation of all this had come with
his curious feeling of unreasoning hatred and
blind indignation toward Calderwell as； through
Billy's eyes； he had seen the two together。 Then
had come the overwhelming longing to pick up
Alice Greggory and run off with hersomewhere；
anywhere； so that Calderwell could not follow。
At once； however； he had pulled himself up
short with the mental cry of ‘‘Absurd！'' What
was it to him if Calderwell did care for Alice
Greggory？ Surely he himself was not in love
with the girl。 He was in love with Billy； that
is
It was all confusion then； in his mind； and he
was glad indeed when he could leave the house。
He wanted to be alone。 He wanted to think。
He must； in some way； thrash out this astounding
thing that had come to him。
Arkwright did not visit the Annex again for
some days。 Until he was more nearly sure of
himself and of his feelings； he did not wish to see
Alice Greggory。 It was then that he began to
think of Billy； deliberately； purposefully； for it
must be； of course； that he had made a mistake；
he told himself。 It must be that he did； really；
still care for Billythough of course he ought
not to。
Arkwright made another discovery then。 He
learned that； however deliberately he started in
to think of Billy； he ended every time in thinking
of Alice。 He thought of how good she had been
to him； and of how faithful she had been in helping
him to fight his love for Billy。 Just here he
decided； for a moment； that probably； after all；
his feeling of anger against Calderwell was merely
the fear of losing this helpful comradeship that
he so needed。 Even with himself； however； Arkwright
could not keep up this farce long； and very
soon he admitted miserably that it was not the
comradeship of Alice Greggory that he wanted or
needed； but the love。
He knew it now。 No longer was there any use
in beating about the bush。 He did love Alice
Greggory； but so curiously and unbelievably
stupid had he been that he had not found it out
until now。 And now it was too late。 Had not
even Billy called his attention to the fact of
Calderwell's devotion？ Besides； had not he himself；
at the very first； told Calderwell that he
might have a clear field？
Fool that he had been to let another thus lightly
step in and win from under his very nose what
might have been his if