ated William, faintly.

"Uncle William! Bertram! Listen," panted Billy. "I never told you much
before, but I'm going to, now. Long ago, when I went away with Aunt
Hannah, your sister Kate showed me how dear the old home was to
you--how much you thought of it. And she said--she said that I had
upset everything." (Bertram interjected a sharp word, but Billy paid
no attention.) "That's why I went; and _I shall go again_--if you
don't come home to-morrow to stay, Uncle William. Come, now let's go to
dinner, please. Bertram's hungry," she finished, with a bright smile.

There was a tense moment of silence. William glanced at Bertram; Bertram
returned the glance--with interest.

"Er--ah--yes; well, we might go to dinner," stammered William, after a
minute.

"Er--yes," agreed Bertram. And the three fell into step together.

CHAPTER IV. "JUST LIKE BILLY"

Billy did not leave the Strata this time. Before twenty-four hours had
passed, the last cherished fragment of Mr. William Henshaw's possessions
had been carefully carried down the imposing steps of the Beacon
Hill boarding-house under the disapproving eyes of its bugle-adorned
mistress, who found herself now with a month's advance rent and two
vacant "parlors" on her hands. Before another twenty-four hours had
passed her quondam boarder, with a tired sigh, sank into his favorite
morris chair in his old familiar rooms, and looked about him with
contented eyes. Every treasure was in place, from the traditional four
small stones of his babyhood days to the Batterseas Billy had just
brought him. Pete, as of yore, was hovering near with a dust-cloth.
Bertram's gay whistle sounded from the floor below. William Henshaw was
at home again.

This much accomplished, Billy went to see Aunt Hannah.

Aunt Hannah greeted her affectionately, though with tearfully troubled
eyes. She was wearing a gray shawl to-day topped with a black one--sure
sign of unrest, either physical or mental, as all her friends knew.

"I'd begun to think you'd forgotten--me," she faltered, with a poor
attempt at gayety.

"You've been home three whole days."

"I know, dearie," smiled Billy; "and 'twas a shame. But I have been so
busy! My trunks came at last, and I've been helping Uncle William get
settled, too."

Aunt Hannah looked puzzled.

"Uncle William get settled? You mean--he's changed his room?"

Billy laughed oddly, and threw a swift glance into Aunt Hannah's face.

"Well, yes, he di