MISS BILLY'S DECISION

By Eleanor H. Porter

Author of "Miss Billy," etc.

TO
My Cousin Helen

CONTENTS

MISS BILLY'S DECISION


CHAPTER I.   CALDERWELL DOES SOME TALKING

CHAPTER II.   AUNT HANNAH GETS A LETTER

CHAPTER III.   BILLY AND BERTRAM

CHAPTER IV.   FOR MARY JANE

CHAPTER V.   MARIE SPEAKS HER MIND

CHAPTER VI.   AT THE SIGN OF THE PINK

CHAPTER VII.   OLD FRIENDS AND NEW

CHAPTER VIII.   M. J. OPENS THE GAME

CHAPTER IX.   A RUG, A PICTURE, AND A GIRL AFRAID

CHAPTER X.   A JOB FOR PETE—AND FOR BERTRAM

CHAPTER XI.   A CLOCK AND AUNT HANNAH

CHAPTER XII.   SISTER KATE

CHAPTER XIII.   CYRIL AND A WEDDING

CHAPTER XIV.   M. J. MAKES ANOTHER MOVE

CHAPTER XV.   "MR. BILLY" AND "MISS MARY JANE"

CHAPTER XVI.   A GIRL AND A BIT OF LOWESTOFT

CHAPTER XVII.   ONLY A LOVE SONG, BUT—

CHAPTER XVIII.   SUGARPLUMS

CHAPTER XIX.   ALICE GREGGORY

CHAPTER XX.   ARKWRIGHT TELLS A STORY

CHAPTER XXI.   A MATTER OF STRAIGHT BUSINESS

CHAPTER XXII.   PLANS AND PLOTTINGS

CHAPTER XXIII.   THE CAUSE AND BERTRAM

CHAPTER XXIV.   THE ARTIST AND HIS ART

CHAPTER XXV.   THE OPERETTA

CHAPTER XXVI.   ARKWRIGHT TELLS ANOTHER STORY

CHAPTER XXVII.   THE THING THAT WAS THE TRUTH

CHAPTER XXVIII.   BILLY TAKES HER TURN

CHAPTER XXIX.   KATE WRITES A LETTER

CHAPTER XXX.   "I'VE HINDERED HIM"

CHAPTER XXXI.   FLIGHT

CHAPTER XXXII.   PETE TO THE RESCUE

CHAPTER XXXIII.     BERTRAM TAKES THE REINS

MISS BILLY'S DECISION

CHAPTER I. CALDERWELL DOES SOME TALKING

Calderwell had met Mr. M. J. Arkwright in London through a common friend; since then they had tramped half over Europe together in a comradeship that was as delightful as it was unusual. As Calderwell put it in a letter to his sister, Belle:

"We smoke the same cigar and drink the same tea (he's just as much of an old woman on that subject as I am!), and we agree beautifully on all necessary points of living, from tipping to late sleeping in the morning; while as for politics and religion—we disagree in those just enough to lend spice to an otherwise tame existence."

Farther along in this same letter Calderwell touched upon his new friend again.

"I admit, however, I would like to know his name. To find