Always she had
been the happiest in his presence; never had she pictured him anywhere
else but at her side. Certainly never had she pictured him as the
devoted lover of another woman!... And she had not known what it all
meant--poor blind child that she was!
Very resolutely now Billy set herself to looking matters squarely in
the face. She understood it quite well. All summer Marie and Bertram had
been thrown together. No wonder Marie had fallen in love with Bertram,
and that he--Billy thought she comprehended now why Bertram had found it
so easy for the last few weeks to be William's brother. She, of course,
had been the "other girl" whom Marie had once feared that the man loved.
It was all so clear--so woefully clear!
With an aching heart Billy asked herself what now was to be done.
For herself, turn whichever way she could, she could see nothing but
unhappiness. She determined, therefore, with Spartan fortitude, that
to no one else would she bring equal unhappiness. She would be silent.
Bertram and Marie loved each other. That matter was settled. As to
William--Billy thought of the story William had told her of his lonely
life,--of the plea he had made to her; and her heart ached. Whatever
happened, William must be made happy. William must not be told. Her
promise to William must be kept.
CHAPTER XL
WILLIAM PAYS A VISIT
Before September passed all Billy's friends said that her summer's
self-appointed task had been too hard for her.
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