Mrs. Stetson had long since gone back to
Hampden Falls; and Bertram said that the Strata was beginning to look
natural again. There remained now, indeed, only Spunkie, the small gray
cat, to remind any one of the days that were gone--though, to be sure,
there were Billy's letters, if they might be called a reminder.
Billy did not write often. She said that she was "too busy to breathe."
Such letters as did come from her were addressed to William, though they
soon came to be claimed by the entire family. Bertram and Cyril frankly
demanded that William read them aloud; and even Pete always contrived to
have some dusting or "puttering" within earshot--a subterfuge quite well
understood, but never reproved by any of the brothers.
When the Christmas vacation drew near, William wrote that he hoped
Billy and Aunt Hannah would spend it with them; but Billy answered that
although she appreciated their kindness and thanked them for it, yet she
must decline their invitation, as she had already invited several of the
girls to go home with her to Hampden Falls for a country Christmas.
For the Easter vacation William was even more insistent--but so was
Billy: she had already accepted an invitation to go home with one of
the girls, and she did not think it would be at all polite to change her
plans now.
William fretted not a little.
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