And there is always everywhere a knit shawl, for Aunt
Hannah is sure to feel a draught, and Billy keeps shawls handy. So there
you are! We certainly aren't a strata any longer," he finished.
Billy was, indeed, very much at home in the Beacon Street house--too
much so, Aunt Hannah thought. Aunt Hannah was, in fact, seriously
disturbed. To William one evening, late in May, she spoke her mind.
"William, what are you going to do with Billy?" she asked abruptly.
"Do with her? What do you mean?" returned William with the contented
smile that was so often on his lips these days. "This is Billy's home."
"That's the worst of it," sighed the woman, with a shake of her head.
"The worst of it! Aunt Hannah, what do you mean? Don't you like Billy?"
"Yes, yes, William, of course I like Billy. I love her! Who could help
it? That's not what I mean. It's of Billy I'm thinking, and of the rest
of you. She can't stay here like this. She must go away, to school,
or--or somewhere."
"And she's going in September," replied the man. "She'll go to
preparatory school first, and to college, probably."
"Yes, but now--right away. She ought to go--somewhere."
"Why, yes, for the summer, of course. But those plans aren't completed
yet. Billy and I were talking of it last evening. You know the boys are
always away more or less, but I seldom go until August, and we let Pete
and Dong Ling off then for a month and close the house.
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