those words, as coming from Arkwright, had swept
over her then, and she had snatched up the manuscript and hidden it
under the bottom pile of music in her cabinet ... And she had presumed
to sing that love song to Bertram!

Arkwright had written Billy once--a kind, courteous, manly note that had
made her cry. He had begged her again not to blame herself, and he had
said that he hoped he should be strong enough sometime to wish to call
occasionally--if she were willing--and renew their pleasant hours with
their music; but, for the present, he knew there was nothing for him to
do but to stay away. He had signed himself "Michael Jeremiah Arkwright";
and to Billy that was the most pathetic thing in the letter--it sounded
so hopeless and dreary to one who knew the jaunty "M. J."

Alice Greggory, Billy saw frequently. Billy and Aunt Hannah were great
friends with the Greggorys now, and had been ever since the Greggorys'
ten-days' visit at Hillside. The cheery little cripple, with the gentle
tap, tap, tap of her crutches, had won everybody's heart the very
first day; and Alice was scarcely less of a favorite, after the sunny
friendliness of Hillside had thawed her stiff reserve into naturalness.

Billy had little to say to Alice Greggory of Arkwright. Billy was no
longer trying to play Cupid's assistant. The Cause, for which she had
so valiantly worked, had been felled by Arkwright's own hand--but that
there were still some faint stirrings of life in it was evidenced by
Billy's secret delight when one day Alice Greggory chanced to mention
that Arkwright had called the night before upon her and her mother.

"He brought us news of our old home," she explained a little hurriedly,
to Billy. "He had heard from his mother, and he thought some things she
said would be interesting to us."

"Of course," murmured Billy, carefully excluding from her voice any hint
of the delight she felt, but hoping, all the while, that Alice would
continue the subject.

Alice, however, had nothing more to say; and Billy was left in
entire ignorance of what the news was that Arkwright had brought.
She suspected, though, that it had something to do with Alice's
father--certainly she hoped that it had; for if Arkwright had called to
tell it, it must be good.

Billy had found a new home for the Greggorys; although at first they had
drawn sensitively back, and had said that they preferred to remain where
they were, they had later gratefully accepted