\"AndnowI’mreadytoseemyfriends，\"sheannounced.
\"AndIthinkyourfriendswillbereadytoseeyou，\"Bertramassuredher.
Andtheywere——atleast，soitappeared.ForatoncethelittlehouseperchedonthehillsidebecametheMeccaformanyoftheHenshaws’friendswhohadknownBillyasWilliam’smerry，eighteen—
year—oldnamesake.Therewereothers，too，whomBillyhadmetabroad;andthereweresoft—stepping，sweet—facedoldwomenandanoccasionalwhite—whiskeredoldman——AuntHannah’sfriends——whofoundthattheyoungmistressofHillsidewasacharminghostess.
TherewerealsotheHenshaw\"boys，\"andtherewasalwaysCalderwell——atleast，soBertramdeclaredtohimselfsometimes.