Miss Billie's Decision [13]
``Er--yes, Cyril told me,'' admitted Marie.
Billy smiled.
``Didn't like it, I suppose; eh?'' she queried shrewdly.
``N-no, I'm afraid he didn't--very well . He said she'd be--one more to be around.''
``There, what did I tell you?'' dimpled Billy. ``You can see what you're coming to when you do get that shaded lamp and the mending basket!''
A moment later, coming in sight of the house, Billy saw a tall, smooth-shaven man standing on the porch. The man lifted his hat and waved it gayly, baring a slightly bald head to the sun.
``It's Uncle William--bless his heart!'' cried Billy. ``They're all coming to dinner, then he and Aunt Hannah and Bertram and I are going down to the Hollis Street Theatre and let you and Cyril have a taste of what that shaded lamp is going to be. I hope you won't be lonesome,'' she finished mischievously, as the car drew up before the door.
CHAPTER VI
AT THE SIGN OF THE PINK
After a week of beautiful autumn weather, Thursday dawned raw and cold. By noon an east wind had made the temperature still more uncomfortable.
At two o'clock Aunt Hannah tapped at Billy's chamber door. She showed a troubled face to the girl who answered her knock.
``Billy, _would_ you mind very much if I asked you to go alone to the Carletons' and to meet Mary Jane?'' she inquired anxiously.
``Why, no--that is, of course I should _mind_, dear, because I always like to have you go to places with me. But it isn't necessary. You aren't sick; are you?''
``N-no, not exactly; but I have been sneezing all the morning, and taking camphor and sugar to break it up--if it is a cold. But it is so raw and Novemberish out, that--''
``Why, of course you sha'n't go, you poor dear! Mercy! don't get one of those dreadful colds on to you before the wedding! Have you felt a draft? Where's another shawl?'' Billy turned and cast searching eyes about the room--Billy always kept shawls everywhere for Aunt Hannah's shoulders and feet. Bertram had been known to say, indeed, that a room, according to Aunt Hannah, was not fully furnished unless it contained from one to four shawls, assorted as to size and warmth. Shawls, certainly, did seem to be a necessity with Aunt Hannah, as she usually wore from one to three at the same time--which again caused Bertram to declare that he always counted Aunt Hannah's shawls when he wished to know what the thermometer was.
``No, I'm not cold, and I haven't felt a draft,'' said Aunt Hannah now. ``I put on my thickest gray shawl this morning with the little pink one for down-stairs, and the blue one for breakfast; so you see I've been very careful. But I _have_ sneezed six times, so I think 'twould be safer not to go out in this east wind. You were going to stop for Mrs. Granger, anyway, weren't you? So you'll have her with you for the tea.''
``Yes, dear, don't worry. I'll take your cards and explain to Mrs. Carleton and her daughters.''
``And, of course, as far as Mary Jane is concerned, I don't know her any more than you do; so I couldn't be any help there,'' sighed Aunt Hannah.
``Not a bit,'' smiled Billy, cheerily. ``Don't give it another thought, my dear. I sha'n't have a bit of trouble. All I'll have to do is to look for a girl alone with a pink. Of course I'll have mine on, too, and she'll be watching for me. So just run along and take your nap, dear, and be all rested and ready to welcome her when she comes,'' finished Billy, stooping to give the soft, faintly pink cheek a warm kiss.
``Well, thank you, my dear; perhaps I will,'' sighed Aunt Hannah, drawing the gray shawl about her as she turned away contentedly.
Mrs. Carleton's tea that afternoon was, for Billy, not an occasion of unalloyed joy. It was the first time she had appeared at a gathering of any size since the announcement of her engagement; and, as she dolefully told Bertram afterwards, she had very much the feeling of the picture hung on the wall.
``And they _did_ put up their lorgnettes and say, `Is _that_ the one?' '' she declared; ``and I know some of them