Part 18 (2/2)
”Yes, I see,” frowned Cyril. ”It does look suspicious.”
Two days before the date of Billy's expected sailing, William announced at the breakfast table that he was going away on business; might be gone until the end of the week.
”You don't say,” commented Bertram. ”I'M going to-morrow, but I'm coming back in a couple of days.”
”Hm-m;” murmured William, abstractedly. ”Oh, well, I may be back before the end of the week.”
Only one meal did Cyril eat alone after his brothers had gone; then he told Pete that he had decided to take the night boat for New York. There was a little matter that called him there, he said, and he believed the trip by water would be a pleasure, the night was so fine and warm.
In New York Cyril had little trouble in finding Billy, as he knew the steams.h.i.+p she was to take.
”I thought as long as I was in New York to-day I'd just come and say good-by to you and Aunt Hannah,” he informed her, with an evident aim toward making his presence appear to be casual.
”That was good of you!” exclaimed Billy. ”And how are Uncle William and Mr. Bertram?”
”Very well, I fancy, though they weren't there when I left,” replied the man.
”Oh!--gone away?”
”Yes. A little matter of business they said; but--well, by Jove!” he broke off, his gaze on a familiar figure hurrying at that moment toward them. ”There's William now!”
William, with no eyes but for Billy, came rapidly forward.
”Well, well, Billy! I thought as long as I happened to be in New York to-day I'd just run down to the boat and see you and Aunt Hannah off, and wish--CYRIL! Where did YOU come from?”
Billy laughed.
”He just happened to be in town, too, Uncle William, like you,” she explained. ”And I'm sure I think it's lovely of you to be so kind. Aunt Hannah'll be up right away. She went down to the stateroom to--” This time it was Billy who stopped abruptly. The two men facing her could not see what she saw, and not until their brother Bertram's merry greeting fell on their ears did they understand her sudden silence.
”And is this the way you meant to run away from us, young lady?” cried Bertram. ”Not so fast! You see, I happened to be in New York this morning, and so I--” Something in Billy's face sent a pause to his words just as his eyes spied the two men at the girl's side. For a moment he stared dumbly; then he gave a merry gesture of defeat.
”It's all up! I might as well confess. I'VE been planning this thing for three weeks, Billy, ever since your letter came, in fact. As for my two fellow-sinners here, I'll wager they weren't two days behind me in their planning. So now, own up, boys!”
William and Cyril, however, did not have to ”own up.” Mrs. Stetson appeared at the moment and created, for them, a very welcome diversion.
Long minutes later, when the good-byes had become nothing but a flutter of white handkerchiefs from deck to sh.o.r.e, and sh.o.r.e to deck, William drew a long sigh.
”That's a nice little girl, boys, a nice little girl!” he exclaimed. ”I declare! I didn't suppose I'd mind so much her going so far away.”
CHAPTER XX
BILLY, THE MYTH
To all appearances it came about very naturally that Billy did not return to America for some time. During the summer she wrote occasionally to William, and gave glowing accounts of their travels.
Then in September came the letter telling him that they had concluded to stay through the winter in Paris. Billy wrote that she had decided not to go to college. She would take up some studies there in Paris, she said, but she would devote herself more particularly to her music.
<script>