Billy was romantic.

To sally gaily forth with a pink in the buttonhole of her coat to find her father's friend who was a "Billy" too, seemed to Billy Neilson not only delightful, but eminently sensible, and an excellent way out of her present homesick loneliness.

So she bought the pink and her ticket, and impatiently awaited the time to start.
To the Beacon Street house, Billy's cheerful telegram brought the direst consternation.

Even Kate was hastily summoned to the family conclave that immediately resulted.
"There's nothing--simply nothing that I can do," she declared irritably, when she had heard the story.

"Surely, you don't expect ME to take the boy!" "No, no, of course not," sighed William.