"You've just come!"
The man turned almost impatiently.
"And do you think I can stay--like this? Billy, won't you say good-by?"
he asked in a softer voice, again with outstretched hand.
Billy shook her head. She ignored the hand, and resolutely backed away.
"No, not like that. You are angry with me," she grieved. "Besides, you
make it sound as if--if you were going away."
"I am going away."
"Bertram!" There was terror as well as dismay in Billy's voice.
Again the man turned sharply.
"Billy, why are you making this thing so hard for me?" he asked in
despair. "Can't you see that I must go?"
"Indeed, I can't. And you mustn't go, either. There isn't any reason
why you should," urged Billy, talking very fast, and working her fingers
nervously. "Things are just the same as they were before--for you. I'm
just going to marry William, but I wasn't ever going to marry you, so
that doesn't change things any for you. Don't you see? Why, Bertram, you
mustn't go away! There won't be anybody left. Cyril's going next week,
you know; and if you go there won't be anybody left but William and
me. Bertram, you mustn't go; don't you see? I should feel lost
without--you!" Billy was almost crying now.
Bertram looked up quickly. An odd change had come to his face. For a
moment he gazed silently into Billy's agitated countenance; then he
asked in a low voice:
"Billy, did you think that after you and William were married I should
still continue to live at--the Strata?"
"Why, of course you will!" cried the girl, indignantly.
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