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029 - Chess · Miss Billy Married

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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty nine of Miss Billy Married. This is a
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
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  Speaker 1: For more information or a volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
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  Speaker 1: Recording by Phil Schinever. Miss Billy Married by Eleanor H. Porter,
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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty nine chess. Promptly at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon,
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  Speaker 1: Arkwright appeared at the strata, and for the next hour
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  Speaker 1: Billy did her best to learn the names and the
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  Speaker 1: moves of the pretty little ivorymen. But at the end
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  Speaker 1: of the hour she was almost ready to give up
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  Speaker 1: in despair. If there weren't so many kinds, and if
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  Speaker 1: they didn't all insist on doing something different, it wouldn't
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  Speaker 1: be so bad, she sighed. But how can you be
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  Speaker 1: expected to remember which goes diagonal, and which criss crosses,
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  Speaker 1: and which can't go but one square, and which can
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  Speaker 1: skip way across the board, specially when that little pawn
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  Speaker 1: thing can go straight ahead two square sometimes and the
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  Speaker 1: next minute only one, except when it takes things, and
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  Speaker 1: then it goes crooked one square, And when that tiresome
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  Speaker 1: little horse tries to go all ways at once, and
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  Speaker 1: you can jump round and hurdle over anybody's head, even
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  Speaker 1: the king's. How can you expect folks to remember? But
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  Speaker 1: then Bertram remembers, she added resolutely, so I guess I
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  Speaker 1: can whenever possible. After that, Arkwright came on Tuesdays and Fridays,
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  Speaker 1: and in spite of her doubts, Billy did very soon
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  Speaker 1: begin to remember. Spurred by her great desire to play
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  Speaker 1: with Bertram and surprise him, Billy spared no pains to
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  Speaker 1: learn well her lessons. Even among the babies, books and
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  Speaker 1: playthings these days might be found a manual of chess.
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  Speaker 1: For Billy pursued her study at all hours, and some
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  Speaker 1: nights even her dreams were of ruined castles, where kings
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  Speaker 1: and queens and bishops disported themselves with pawns for servants,
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  Speaker 1: and where a weird night on horseback used the castle's
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  Speaker 1: highest tower or a hurdle landing, always one hundred yards
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  Speaker 1: to one side of where he would be expected to
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  Speaker 1: come down. It was not long, of course, before Billy
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  Speaker 1: could play a game of chess. After a fashion, but
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  Speaker 1: she knew just enough to realize that she actually knew nothing,
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  Speaker 1: And she knew too that until she could play a
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  Speaker 1: really good game her moves would not hold Bertram's attention
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  Speaker 1: for one minute. Not at present. Therefore, was she willing
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  Speaker 1: Bertram should know what she was attempting to do. Billy
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  Speaker 1: had not yet learned what the great surgeon had said
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  Speaker 1: to Bertram. She knew only that his arm was no better,
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  Speaker 1: and that he never voluntarily spoke of his painting over
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  Speaker 1: her now seemed to be hanging a vague horror. Something
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  Speaker 1: was the matter, she knew that, but what it was
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  Speaker 1: she could not fathom. She realized that Arkwright was trying
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  Speaker 1: to help, and her gratitude, though silent, knew no bounds.
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  Speaker 1: Not even to Aunt Hannah or Uncle William. Could she
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  Speaker 1: speak of this thing that was troubling her, that they
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  Speaker 1: too understood in a measure, she realized. But still she
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  Speaker 1: said no word. Billy was wearing a proud, little air
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  Speaker 1: of aloofness these days that was heartbreaking to those who
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  Speaker 1: saw it and read it aright, for what it was
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  Speaker 1: loyalty to Bertram, no matter what happened. And so Billy
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  Speaker 1: poured over her chessboard feverishly, tirelessly, having ever before her
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  Speaker 1: longing eyes the dear time when Bertram, across the table
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  Speaker 1: from her, should sit happily staring for half an hour
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  Speaker 1: at a move she had made. Whatever Billy's chess playing
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  Speaker 1: was to signify, however, in her own life, it was
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  Speaker 1: destined to play a part in the lives of two
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  Speaker 1: friends of hers. That was most unexpected during Billy's very
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  Speaker 1: first lesson, as it chanced, Alice Greggory called and found
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  Speaker 1: Billy and Arkwright so absorbed in their game that they
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  Speaker 1: did not at first hear Eliza speak her name. The
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  Speaker 1: quick color that flew to Arkwright's face at sight of
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  Speaker 1: herself was construin fuoed at once by Alice as embarrassment
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  Speaker 1: on his part at being found tete a tete with
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  Speaker 1: Bertram Henshaw's wife, and she did not like it. She
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  Speaker 1: was not pleased that he was there. She was less
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  Speaker 1: pleased that he blushed for being there. It so happened
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  Speaker 1: that Alice found him there again several times. Alice gave
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  Speaker 1: a piano lesson at two o'clock every Tuesday and Friday
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  Speaker 1: afternoon to a little Beacon Street neighbor of Billy's, and
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  Speaker 1: she had fallen into the habit of stepping in to
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  Speaker 1: see Billy for a few minutes afterwards, which brought her
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  Speaker 1: there at a little past three, just after the chest
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  Speaker 1: lesson was well started. If the first time that Alice
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  Speaker 1: Gregory found Arkwright opposite Billy at the chess table, she
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  Speaker 1: was surprised and displeased. The second and third times she
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  Speaker 1: was much more so when it finally came to her
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  Speaker 1: one day with sickening illumination that always the tete a
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  Speaker 1: tetes were during Bertram's hour at the doctor's. She was appalled.
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  Speaker 1: What could it mean? Had Arkwright given up his fight?
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  Speaker 1: Was he playing false to himself and to Bertram by
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  Speaker 1: trying thus on the sly to win the love of
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  Speaker 1: his friend's wife. Was this man whom she had so
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  Speaker 1: admired for his brave stand, and to whom all unasked,
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  Speaker 1: she had given her heart's best love. More, the pity
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  Speaker 1: of it was this idol of hers to show feet
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  Speaker 1: of clay. After all, she could not believe it, And yet,
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  Speaker 1: sick at heart, but imbued with the determination of a
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  Speaker 1: righteous cause, Alice Greggory resolved for Billy's sake to watch
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  Speaker 1: and wait. If necessary, she should speak to some one,
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  Speaker 1: though to whom she did not know. Billy's happiness should
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  Speaker 1: not be put in jeopardy if she could help it, indeed, no.
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  Speaker 1: As the weeks passed, Alice came to be more and
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  Speaker 1: more uneasy, distressed, and grieved. Of Billy, she could believe
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  Speaker 1: no evil, But of Arkwright. She was beginning to think
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  Speaker 1: she could believe everything that was dishonorable and despicable, and
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  Speaker 1: to believe that of the man she still loved. No
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  Speaker 1: wonder that Alice did not look nor act like herself
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  Speaker 1: these days, Incensed at herself because she did love him,
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  Speaker 1: angry at him because he seemed to be proving himself
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  Speaker 1: so unworthy of that love, and genuinely frightened at what
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  Speaker 1: she thought was the fast approaching wreck of all happiness
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  Speaker 1: for her dear friend Billy. Alice did not know which
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  Speaker 1: way to turn. At first, she had told herself confidently
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  Speaker 1: that she would speak to somebody, But as time passed
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  Speaker 1: she saw the impractability of that idea speak to somebody,
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  Speaker 1: indeed to whom? When? Where? What should she say? Where
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  Speaker 1: was her right to say anything? She was not dealing
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  Speaker 1: with a parcel of naughty children who had pilfered the
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  Speaker 1: cake jar. She was dealing with grown men and women
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  Speaker 1: who presumably knew their own affairs, and who certainly would
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  Speaker 1: resent any interference from her. On the other hand, could
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  Speaker 1: she stand calmly by and see Bertram loose his wife, Arkwright,
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  Speaker 1: his honor, Billy her happiness, and herself her faith in
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  Speaker 1: human nature, all because to do otherwise would be to
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  Speaker 1: meddle in other people's business. Apparently she could and should,
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  Speaker 1: at least that seemed to be the role which she
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  Speaker 1: was expected to play. It was when Alice had reached
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  Speaker 1: this unhappy frame of mind that Arkwright himself unexpectedly opened
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  Speaker 1: the door for her. The two were alone together in
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  Speaker 1: Bertram Henshaw's den. It was Tuesday afternoon. Alice had called
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  Speaker 1: to find Billy and Arkwright deep in their usual game
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  Speaker 1: of chess. Then a matter of domestic affairs had taken
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  Speaker 1: Billy from the room. I'm afraid I'll have to be
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  Speaker 1: gone ten minutes or more, she had said, as she
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  Speaker 1: rose from the table reluctantly. But you might be showing
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  Speaker 1: Alice the moves, mister Arkwright, she had added, with a laugh,
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  Speaker 1: as she disappeared. Shall I teach you the moves? He
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  Speaker 1: had smiled. When they were alone together. Alice's reply was
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  Speaker 1: so indignantly sharp and sharp that Arkwright, after a moment's pause,
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  Speaker 1: had said, with a whimsical smile that yet carried a
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  Speaker 1: touch of sadness. I am forced to surmise from your
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  Speaker 1: answer that you think it is you who should be
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  Speaker 1: teaching me moves at all events. I seem to have
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  Speaker 1: been making some moves lately that have not suited you.
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  Speaker 1: Judging by your actions, Have I offended you in any way? Alice?
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  Speaker 1: The girl turned with a quick lifting of her head.
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  Speaker 1: Alice knew that if ever she were to speak, it
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  Speaker 1: must be now. Never again could she hope for such
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  Speaker 1: an opportunity as this. Suddenly throwing circumspectcaution quite aside, she
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  Speaker 1: determined that she would speak. Springing to her feet, she
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  Speaker 1: crossed the room and seated herself in Billy's chair at
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  Speaker 1: the chest table. Me offend me, she exclaimed, in a
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  Speaker 1: low voice, as if I were the ones you are offending. Why,
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  Speaker 1: Alice murmured the man, and obvious to a faction, Alice
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  Speaker 1: raised her hand palm outward. Now don't please, don't pretend
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  Speaker 1: you don't know, she begged, almost piteously. Please don't add
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  Speaker 1: that to all the rest. Oh, I understand, of course,
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  Speaker 1: it's none of my affairs, and I wasn't going to speak,
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  Speaker 1: she choked. But to day, when you gave me this chance,
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  Speaker 1: I had to. At first I couldn't believe it, she
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  Speaker 1: plunged on, plainly hurrying against Billy's return. After all, you
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  Speaker 1: told me of how you meant to fight it your
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  Speaker 1: tiger skin, and I thought it merely happened that you
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  Speaker 1: were here alone with her those days. I came. Then
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  Speaker 1: when I found out they were always the days mister
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  Speaker 1: Henshaw was away of the doctor's I had to believe.
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  Speaker 1: She stopped for breath. Arkwright, who up to this moment
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  Speaker 1: had shown that he was completely mystified as to what
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  Speaker 1: she was talking about, suddenly flushed a painful red. He
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  Speaker 1: was obviously about to speak, but she prevented him with
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  Speaker 1: a quick gesture. There's more I've got to say. Please,
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  Speaker 1: as if it weren't bad enough to do what you're
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  Speaker 1: doing at all, but you must need to take it
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  Speaker 1: at such a time as this, when her husband isn't
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  Speaker 1: doing just what he ought to do, and we all
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  Speaker 1: know it. It's so unfair to take her now to
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  Speaker 1: try to to win, and you aren't even fair with him,
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  Speaker 1: she protested tremulously. You pretend to be his friend, you
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  Speaker 1: go with him everywhere. It's just as if you were
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  Speaker 1: helping to to pull him down. You're one with the
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  Speaker 1: whole bunch. The blood suddenly receded from Arkwright's face, leaving
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  Speaker 1: it very white. But if Alice saw it, she paid
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  Speaker 1: no heed. Everybody says, you are then to come here
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  Speaker 1: like this on the sly when you know he can't
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  Speaker 1: be here. I, oh, can't you see what you're doing?
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  Speaker 1: There was a moment's pause, then Arkwright spoke. A deep
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  Speaker 1: pain looked from his eyes. He was still very pale,
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  Speaker 1: and his mouth had settled into sad lines. I think
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  Speaker 1: perhaps it may be just as well if I tell
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  Speaker 1: you what I am doing, or rather trying to do,
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  Speaker 1: he said quietly. Then he told her, And so you see,
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  Speaker 1: he added, when he had finished the tale. I haven't
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  Speaker 1: really accomplished much after all, and it seems the little
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  Speaker 1: I have accomplished has led only to my being misjudged
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  Speaker 1: by you, my best friend. Alice gave a sobbing cry.
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  Speaker 1: Her face was scarlet horror, shame, and relief. Struggled for
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  Speaker 1: mastery in her countenance. Oh but I didn't know, I
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  Speaker 1: didn't know, she moaned, twisting her hands nervously, and now
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  Speaker 1: when you've been so brave, so true for me to
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  Speaker 1: accuse you of Oh, can you ever forgive me? But
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  Speaker 1: knowing that you did care for her, it did look.
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  Speaker 1: She choked into silence and turned away her head. He
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  Speaker 1: glanced at her tenderly, mournfully. Yes, he said after a minute,
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  Speaker 1: in a low voice, I can see how it did look.
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  Speaker 1: And so I'm going to tell you now something I
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  Speaker 1: had meant never to tell you. There really couldn't have
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  Speaker 1: been anything in that, you see, For I found out
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  Speaker 1: long ago that it was gone whatever love there had
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  Speaker 1: been for Billy. But you are tiger skin. Oh yes,
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  Speaker 1: I thought it was alive, smiled Arkwright sadly, when I
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  Speaker 1: asked you to help me fight it. But one day,
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  Speaker 1: very suddenly, I discovered that it was nothing but a
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  Speaker 1: dead skin of dreams and memories. But I made another
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  Speaker 1: discovery too. I found that just beyond lay another one,
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  Speaker 1: and that was very much alive, another one. Alice turned
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  Speaker 1: to him in wonder. But you never asked me to
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  Speaker 1: help you fight that one. He shook his head. No,
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  Speaker 1: I couldn't you see, you couldn't have helped me. You'd
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  Speaker 1: only have hindered me. Hindered you. Yes, you see, it
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  Speaker 1: was my love for you that I was fighting. Then
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  Speaker 1: Alice gave a low cry and flushed vividly, but Arkwright
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  Speaker 1: hurried on, his eyes turned away. Oh, I understand. I know.
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  Speaker 1: I'm not asking for anything. I heard some time ago
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  Speaker 1: of your engagement to Calderwell. I've tried many times to
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  Speaker 1: say the proper expected, pretty speeches, but I couldn't. I
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  Speaker 1: will now, though I do. You have all my tenderest
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  Speaker 1: best wishes for your happiness. Dear, if long ago I
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  Speaker 1: hadn't been such a blind fool as not to know
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  Speaker 1: my own heart. But but there's some mistake, interposed Alice,
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  Speaker 1: palpitatingly with hanging head. I'm I'm not engaged to mister Calderwell,
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  Speaker 1: Arkwright turned and sent a keen glance into her face.
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  Speaker 1: You're not, no, But I heard that Calderwell. He stopped helplessly.
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  Speaker 1: You heard that mister Calderwell was engaged. Very likely, but
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  Speaker 1: it so happens. He isn't engaged to me, murmured Alice faintly.
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  Speaker 1: But long ago, you said, Arkwright paused, his eyes still
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  Speaker 1: keenly searching her face. Never mind what I said long ago,
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  Speaker 1: laughed Alice, trying unsick cessfully to meet his gaze. One says,
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  Speaker 1: lots of things at times, you know. Into Arkwright's eyes
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  Speaker 1: came a new light, a light that plainly needed but
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  Speaker 1: a breath to fan it into quick fire. Alice, he said, softly,
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  Speaker 1: do you mean that maybe now I needn't try to
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  Speaker 1: fight that other tiger skin? There was no answer. Arkwright
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  Speaker 1: reached out a pleading hand. Alice, Dear, I've loved you
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  Speaker 1: so long, he begged, unsteadily. Don't you think that sometime,
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  Speaker 1: if I was very, very patient, you could just begin
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  Speaker 1: to care a little for me? Still there was no answer.
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  Speaker 1: Then slowly Alice shook her head. Her face was turned
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  Speaker 1: quite away, which was a pity, for if Arkwright could
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  Speaker 1: have seen the sudden tender mischief in her eyes, his
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  Speaker 1: own would not have become so sober, not even a
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  Speaker 1: little bit. I couldn't ever begin, answered a half smothered voice,
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  Speaker 1: Alice cried the man, heart brokenly. Alice turn now, and
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  Speaker 1: for a fleeting instant let him see her eyes glowing
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  Speaker 1: with the love so long kept in relentless exile. I couldn't,
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  Speaker 1: because you see, I began long ago, she whispered. Alice
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  Speaker 1: It was the same single word, but spoken with a
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  Speaker 1: world of difference, for into it now was crowded all
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  Speaker 1: the glory and the wonder of a great love. Alice
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  Speaker 1: breathed the man again, and this time the word was
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  Speaker 1: oh so tenderly whispered into the little pink and white
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  Speaker 1: ear of the girl in his arms. I got delayed,
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  Speaker 1: began Billy in the doorway. Oh, she broke off, beating
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  Speaker 1: a hushed but precipitate retreat fully. Thirty minutes later, Billy
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  Speaker 1: came to the door again. This time her approach was
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  Speaker 1: heralded by a snatch of song. I hope you'll excuse
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  Speaker 1: my being gone so long, she smiled as she entered
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  Speaker 1: the room, where her two guests sat decorously face to
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  Speaker 1: face at the chest table. Well you know you said
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  Speaker 1: you'd be gone ten minutes, Arkwright reminded her politely. Yes,
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  Speaker 1: I know, I did, and Billy, to her credit, did
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  Speaker 1: not even smile at the man who did not know
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  Speaker 1: ten minutes from fifty end of chapter twenty nine,