s, who had loved her, apparently,
but whom she could not love. Such being the case, if she were, indeed,
incapable of love herself, why should she not make the sacrifice of
giving up her career, her independence, and in that way bring this great
joy to Uncle William's heart?... Even as she said the "Uncle William"
to herself, Billy bit her lip and realized that she must no longer say
"Uncle" William--if she married him.

"If she married him." The words startled her. "If she married him."...
Well, what of it? She would go to live at the Strata, of course; and
there would be Cyril and Bertram. It might be awkward, and yet--she did
not believe Cyril was in love with anything but his music; and as to
Bertram--it was the same with Bertram and his painting, and he would
soon forget that he had ever fancied he loved her. After that he would
be simply a congenial friend and companion--a good comrade. As Billy
thought of it, indeed, one of the pleasantest features of this marriage
with William would be the delightful comradeship of her "brother,"
Bertram.

Billy dwelt then at some length on William's love for her, his longing
for her presence, and his dreary years of loneliness.... And he was so
good to her, she recollected; he had always been good to her. He was
older, to be sure--much older than she; but, after all, it would not be
so difficult, so very difficult, to learn to love him. At all events,
whatever happened, she would have the supreme satisfaction of knowing
that at least she had brought into dear Uncle--that is, into William's
life the great peace and joy that only she could give.

It was almost dawn when Billy arrived at this not uncheerful state of
prospective martyrdom. She turned over then with a sigh, and settled
herself to sleep. She was relieved that she had decided the question.
She was glad that she knew just what to say when William should speak.
He was a dear, dear man, and she would not make it hard for him, she
promised herself. She would be William's wife.

CHAPTER XXXVI

WILLIAM MEETS WITH A SURPRISE

In spite of his sister's confident assurance that the time was ripe for
him to speak to Billy, William delayed some days before broaching the
matter to her. His courage was not so good as it had been when he was
talking with Kate. It seemed now, as it always had, a fearsome thing to
try to hasten on this love affair between Billy and Bertram. He could
not see, in spite of Kate's words, that