Miss Billys Decision | Page 8

too late, and everything is
lovely now, even to Cyril and Marie. Did you ever see anything so
beatifically happy as that couple are? Bertram says he hasn't heard a
dirge from Cyril's rooms for three weeks; and that if anybody else
played the kind of music he's been playing, it would be just common
garden ragtime!''
``Music! Oh, my grief and conscience! That makes me think, Billy. If
I'm not actually forgetting what I came in here for,'' cried Aunt Hannah,
fumbling in the folds of her dress for the letter that had slipped from
her lap. ``I've had word from a young niece. She's going to study music
in Boston.''
``A niece?''
``Well, not really, you know. She calls me `Aunt,' just as you and the
Henshaw boys do. But I really am related to her, for her mother and I
are third cousins, while it was my husband who was distantly related to
the Henshaw family.''

``What's her name?''
`` `Mary Jane Arkwright.' Where is that letter?''
``Here it is, on the floor,'' reported Billy. ``Were you going to read it to
me?'' she asked, as she picked it up.
``Yes--if you don't mind.''
``I'd love to hear it.''
``Then I'll read it. It--it rather annoys me in some ways. I thought the
whole family understood that I wasn't living by myself any longer
--that I was living with you. I'm sure I thought I wrote them that, long
ago. But this sounds almost as if they didn't understand it--at least, as if
this girl didn't.''
``How old is she?''
``I don't know; but she must be some old, to be coming here to Boston
to study music, alone --singing, I think she said.''
``You don't remember her, then?''
Aunt Hannah frowned and paused, the letter half withdrawn from its
envelope.
``No--but that isn't strange. They live West. I haven't seen any of them
for years. I know there are several children--and I suppose I've been
told their names. I know there's a boy--the eldest, I think--who is quite
a singer, and there's a girl who paints, I believe; but I don't seem to
remember a `Mary Jane.' ''
``Never mind! Suppose we let Mary Jane speak for herself,'' suggested
Billy, dropping her chin into the small pink cup of her hand, and
settling herself to listen.
``Very well,'' sighed Aunt Hannah; and she opened the letter and began
to read.

``DEAR AUNT HANNAH:--This is to tell you that I'm coming to
Boston to study singing in the school for Grand Opera, and I'm
planning to look you up. Do you object? I said to a friend the other day
that I'd half a mind to write to Aunt Hannah and beg a home with her;
and my friend retorted: `Why don't you, Mary Jane?' But that, of course,
I should not think of doing.
``But I know I shall be lonesome, Aunt Hannah, and I hope you'll let
me see you once in a while, anyway. I plan now to come next week
--I've already got as far as New York, as you see by the address--and I
shall hope to see you soon.
``All the family would send love, I know. ``M. J. ARKWRIGHT.''
``Grand Opera! Oh, how perfectly lovely,'' cried Billy.
``Yes, but Billy, do you think she is expecting me to invite her to make
her home with me? I shall have to write and explain that I can't-- if she
does, of course.''
Billy frowned and hesitated.
``Why, it sounded--a little--that way; but--'' Suddenly her face cleared.
``Aunt Hannah, I've thought of the very thing. We will take her!''
``Oh, Billy, I couldn't think of letting you do that,'' demurred Aunt
Hannah. ``You're very kind--but, oh, no; not that!''
``Why not? I think it would be lovely; and we can just as well as not.
After Marie is married in December, she can have that room. Until then
she can have the little blue room next to me.''
``But--but--we don't know anything about her.''
``We know she's your niece, and she's lonesome; and we know she's
musical. I shall love her for every one of those things. Of course we'll
take her!''
``But--I don't know anything about her age.''

``All the more reason why she should be looked out for, then,'' retorted
Billy, promptly. ``Why, Aunt Hannah, just as if you didn't want to give
this lonesome, unprotected young girl a home!''
``Oh, I do, of course; but--''
``Then it's all settled,'' interposed Billy, springing to her feet.
``But what if we--we shouldn't like her?''
``Nonsense! What if she shouldn't like us?'' laughed Billy. ``However,
if you'd feel better, just ask her to come and stay with us a month. We
shall keep her all right, afterwards. See if we don't!''
Slowly Aunt Hannah got