登陆注册
15290800000013

第13章

THE ROOM--AND BILLY

For the first fifteen minutes after Billy's arrival conversation was a fitful thing made up mostly of a merry monologue on the part of Billy herself, interspersed with somewhat dazed replies from one after another of her auditors as she talked to them in turn. No one thought to ask if she cared to go up to her room, and during the entire fifteen minutes Billy sat on the floor with Spunk in her lap. She was still there when the funereal face of Pete appeared in the doorway. Pete's jaw dropped. It was plain that only the sternest self-control enabled him to announce dinner, with anything like dignity. But he managed to stammer out the words, and then turn loftily away. Bertram, who sat near the door, however, saw him raise his hands in horror as he plunged through the hall and down the stairway.

With a motion to Bertram to lead the way with Billy, William frenziedly gripped his sister's arm, and hissed in her ear for all the world like a villain in melodrama:

"Listen! You'll sleep in Bert's room to-night, and Bert will come up-stairs with me. Get Billy to bed as soon as you can after dinner, and then come back down to us. We've got to plan what's got to be done. Sh-h!" And he dragged his sister downstairs.

In the dining-room there was a slight commotion. Billy stood at her chair with Spunk in her arms. Before her Pete was standing, dumbly staring into her eyes. At last he stammered:

"Ma'am?"

"A chair, please, I said, for Spunk, you know. Spunk always sits at the table right next to me."It was too much for Bertram. He fled chokingly to the hall.

William dropped weakly into his own place. Cyril stared as had Pete; but Mrs. Hartwell spoke.

"You don't mean--that that cat--has a chair--at the table!" she gasped.

"Yes; and isn't it cute of him?" beamed Billy, entirely misconstruing the surprise in the lady's voice. "His mother always sat at table with us, and behaved beautifully, too. Of course Spunk is little, and makes mistakes sometimes. But he'll learn. Oh, there's a chair right here," she added, as she spied Bertram's childhood's high-chair, which for long years had stood unused in the corner.

"I'll just squeeze it right in here," she finished gleefully, making room for the chair at her side.

When Bertram, a little red of face, but very grave, entered, the dining-room a moment later, he found the family seated with Spunk snugly placed between Billy and a plainly disgusted and dismayed brother, Cyril. The kitten was alert and interested; but he had settled back in his chair, and was looking as absurdly dignified as the flaring pink bow would let him.

"Isn't he a dear?" Billy was saying. But Bertram noticed that there was no reply to this question.

It was a peculiar dinner-party. Only Billy did not feel the strain. Even Spunk was not entirely happy--his efforts to investigate the table and its contents were too frequently curbed by his mistress for his unalloyed satisfaction. William, it is true, made a valiant attempt to cause the conversation to be general; but he failed dismally. Kate was sternly silent, while Cyril was openly repellent. Bertram talked, indeed--but Bertram always talked; and very soon he and Billy had things pretty much to themselves--that is, with occasional interruptions caused by Spunk.

Spunk had an inquisitive nose or paw for each new dish placed before his mistress; and Billy spent much time admonishing him.

Billy said she was training him; that it was wonderful what training would do, and, of course, Spunk WAS little, now.

Dinner was half over when there was a slight diversion created by Spunk's conclusion to get acquainted with the silent man at his left. Cyril, however, did not respond to Spunk's advances. So very evident, indeed, was the man's aversion that Billy turned in amazement.

"Why, Mr. Cyril, don't you see? Spunk is trying to say 'How do you do'?""Very likely; but I'm not fond of cats, Miss Billy.""You're not fond--of--cats!" repeated the girl, as if she could not have heard aright. "Why not?"Cyril changed his position.

"Why, just because I--I'm not," he retorted lamely. "Isn't there anything that--that you don't like?"Billy considered.

"Why, not that I know of," she began, after a moment, "only rainy days and--tripe. And Spunk isn't a bit like those."Bertram chuckled, and even Cyril smiled--though unwillingly.

"All the same," he reiterated, "I don't like cats.""Oh, I'm so sorry," lamented Billy; and at the grieved hurt in her dark eyes Bertram came promptly to the rescue.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • tfboys你是我的初心唯爱

    tfboys你是我的初心唯爱

    这是一部诉说着玛丽苏与现实相结合的“矛盾”的四叶草成长经历的青春校园小说,也是九月四叶草的处女作。希望大家多多支持喔^_^
  • 青蛇转

    青蛇转

    世人都知白素贞水漫金山救夫出塔,世人都知白蛇报恩济世救民,可谁知站在她身后的人亦不是情深似海,为她大闹四海抽筋无悔,这个故事将带领大家走进千古痴女白素贞的身后之人,前世今生爱恨纠葛,来我们一起窥探一番青白二蛇之间那些不为人知的故事……(故事虚构理智看文)
  • 乱世情劫之九尾神狐

    乱世情劫之九尾神狐

    逐渐被海水侵蚀的宫渺渺没有死成,却穿越重生,来到妖界成了集万千宠爱于一身的狐公主变成了涂山芷嫣,那个妖媚惑人的九尾神狐。殊不知,在九尾公主身份的背后,还有一层神秘而又不可思议的身份,她涂山芷嫣并不是真正的狐公主,真正的狐公主早在生产前就已经夭折了,现在的这个女人到底是谁。为什么涂山千冥怀疑她的身份却没有揭穿她。万事不羁的魔君君玄夜为何对她如此倾心。一直以来对她衷心不改的天狐百里千川为何下场如此。位高权重的一国国师为何背弃国家愿永世追随于她。一向以降妖除魔为己任万人敬仰的天神大人为了她为何背职离守了无踪影。涂山芷嫣的真实身份又是什么......
  • 吾家皇后终养成

    吾家皇后终养成

    她,一介鬼才,竟被设计,意外穿越到这个历史没有记载过的大陆,可是穿越就算了,为毛穿成婴儿哒,且看她如何帮助男猪脚一统星月大陆他,五岁登基,丞相欺压,真实的他武功智商均高于同年龄阶段的人,七岁的他捡到了凌雪,且看他如何戏他国国君,且看两人如何书写旷世传奇
  • 古代歌姬

    古代歌姬

    花开花落,缘起缘灭!一个坐台小姐魂穿古代!她会不会像别的穿越者那样家财万贯??追求者无数?她......会遇到怎样的奇缘?当遭到对方爱情誓言的背叛!!她?该如何抉择?
  • 魔伦大陆

    魔伦大陆

    这是一个魔幻世界:这里有美丽恬静的精灵、嗜血残暴的兽人、阴气森森的亡灵、面目狰狞的恶魔、正气凛然的天使、巨大无比的泰坦……当然,还有传说中的龙;这是冒险者的世界,你可以见到魔法师、战士、弓箭手、牧师、盗贼、刺客……等五花八门的职业;萌呆的史莱姆、强壮的骷髅兵、数量繁多的洞穴人、速度奇快的龙蝇、邪恶的尸巫……构成了缤纷复杂的怪兽系统。各种奇妙的宝物帮助主人公一步步成长为异界至尊,一起来开启魔幻之旅吧!
  • Danny's Own Story

    Danny's Own Story

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 穿越时空之红尘有爱

    穿越时空之红尘有爱

    在现代社会遭遇爱情背叛,心生死念,偶然机会,穿越回古代,心已伤,泪已干,世间是否还有专一而长情的男子?宇清远玉树临风,骄傲自负,霸道专横却又柔情无限。玉潇风游戏人间,风流俊美,潇洒不群。血玲珑冷酷阴暗,亦正亦邪,视人命如草芥。她会遇到怎样的感情纠葛,面对三个真心疼爱她的男人,谁将是她的白马王子,携手共度一生!
  • 止阿房

    止阿房

    他是凤凰星君,傲视天下,却因为爱上了一个女子而被贬入了凡间。这一世的他是十岁的大司马,不尽荣耀,然而十二岁那年国破家亡,与姐姐一起入了宫,成为了娈童。十年屈辱,造就了他坚毅,桀骜的性格,十年后问鼎王座,最后却又惨死。白衣似雪,剑指长安,短短二十余年,荣辱与共,最后不过史书上的寥寥几笔,此刻又还有谁记得他呢?他这一生终究还是因为他爱上了那个女子而已。凤凰凤凰止阿房,何不高飞还故乡,无故在此取灭亡。
  • 独家专宠:傲娇男神和我住

    独家专宠:傲娇男神和我住

    丁凝微,你是猪吗!!!”某女不服:“都告诉你了我是猪也是只高贵冷艳的猪!”“那请问高贵冷艳的猪,能不能吃呢?”他邪魅一笑。“猪,猪可以吃啊……”她刚战战兢兢的说完,就被某男一把扛起!啊喂,谁能告诉她,吃猪怎么吃到床上来了?!