usiasm.

"Then I'll go and begin to see to my things," murmured Mrs. Stetson,
rising to her feet. "Billy seems anxious to get away."

Billy did, indeed, seem anxious to get away. She announced her intended
departure at once to the family. She called it a visit to her old home,
and she seemed very glad in her preparations. If there was anything
forced in this gayety, no one noticed it, or at least, no one spoke of
it. The family saw very little of Billy, indeed, these days. She said
that she was busy; that she had packing to do. She stopped taking
lessons of Cyril, and visited Bertram's studio only once during the
whole three days before she went away, and then merely to get some
things that belonged to her. On the fourth day, almost before the family
realized what was happening, she was gone; and with her had gone Mrs.
Stetson and Spunk.

The family said they liked it--the quiet, the freedom. They said they
liked to be alone--all but William. He said nothing.

And yet--

When Bertram went to his studio that morning he did not pick up his
brushes until he had sat for long minutes before the sketch of a
red-cheeked, curly-headed young girl whose eyes held a peculiarly
wistful appeal; and Cyril, at his piano up-stairs, sat with idle fingers
until they finally drifted into a simple little melody--the last thing
Billy had been learning.

It was Pete who brought in the kitten; and Billy had been gone a whole
week then.

"The poor little beast was cryin' at the alleyway door, sir," he
explained. "I--I made so bold as to bring him in."

"Of course," said William. "Did you feed it?"

"Yes, sir; Ling did."

There was a pause, then Pete spoke, diffidently.

"I thought, sir, if ye didn't mind, I'd keep it. I'll try to see that it
stays down-stairs, sir, out of yer way."

"That's all right, Pete; keep it, by all means, by all means," approved
William.

"Thank ye, sir. Ye see, it's a stray. It hasn't got any home. And, did
ye notice, sir? it looks like Spunk."

"Yes, I noticed," said William, stirring with sudden restlessness. "I
noticed."

"Yes, sir," said Pete. And he turned and carried the small gray cat
away.

The new kitten did not stay down-stairs. Pete tried, it is true, to keep
his promise to watch it; but after he had seen the little animal
carried surreptitiously up-stairs in Mr. William's arms, he relaxed
his vigilance. Some days later the kitten appeared with a huge pink bow
behind its ears, somewha