"That"s right, Kitty Kat. Not many people _can_ produce an Uncle Cliff.
But as an especial favor might I contribute candy? I should like to have some claim to Knight"s society to-morrow. If he"s not utterly worn out with you and Amanda he could help me boil sugar."
"Candy"s my specialty," Knight declared. "I could come over to-night and we"ll make up a lot. I"ll show you a Spanish pinoche that"s great."
"Thank you, I know that pinoche--it"s a Texas product; but you may come over just the same."
The arrangements were soon completed. Blue Bonnet was to waylay Mr. Ashe and not let him escape next day until the party was over.
"That will be easy," she remarked. "You couldn"t drive Uncle Cliff away until my vacation is over. He"ll be on hand, don"t worry." But great was her alarm next morning when, coming down to breakfast she found Mr.
Ashe"s bag, packed and ready for traveling, in the front hall.
"Where"s Uncle Cliff?" she said, rushing into the dining-room greatly excited.
"Here, Honey. Why, what"s the matter? You look as if something dreadful were about to happen."
"What"s your bag doing in the hall, Uncle Cliff?"
"Business, Honey, business. I have to run up to Boston for a day or two."
"To-day? Oh, Uncle Cliff, not to-day! You can"t--possibly. We need you here. We"ve just _got_ to have you. You said you would stay with me _two whole weeks_. How can you leave me a single minute when we"ve been separated all these months?"
"But I"ll be back to-morrow, Honey."
"Yes--but to-morrow isn"t to-day! I specially need you to-day."
"Very well then, I"ll go to-night. What did you want to do to-day?"
"Ever so many things. There"s the visit to Gabriel; and the ride out to the farm; and--oh, heaps of things. And to-night--if you"ll just stay over _to-night_, Uncle Cliff, I"ll try to spare you to-morrow. Really, I will. Please."
Her arms were about his neck; her head against his cheek.
"I"m sorry, Blue Bonnet, but I must go this time. I"ll be back in a day or two. Why, here, here, Honey! What"s this?"
Two big, bright tears had splashed down upon his cheeks, and he raised his eyes to behold a very doleful Blue Bonnet.
"Nothing--only--I"m so frightfully disappointed. Uncle Cliff, I need you to-night. I want you!"
"I didn"t suppose it was as serious as all that, Blue Bonnet. Dry those tears. I"ll stay, of course."
That evening when the guests had all gathered, and Uncle Cliff had been informed as to the significance of the occasion, Blue Bonnet whispered in his ear:
"Wouldn"t it have been perfectly dreadful if you had gone away this morning, with all these kind people waiting to do you honor? Why, the We Are Sevens would never have got over it."
"Neither should I, Honey," Mr. Ashe said. "I feel quite like a debutante. This is the first time a party ever was given in my honor. I a.s.sure you I am deeply indebted to the We Are Sevens."
"It"s a "get acquainted" affair, Mr. Ashe," Kitty said, coming up behind him and insisting upon his meeting everybody at once. "This is my father, Doctor Clark--think you"ve met before; and this is Amanda"s mother: she"s dying to thank you for all the lovely things you"ve done for us. Aren"t you, Mrs. Parker?"
Mrs. Parker, a timid little woman, put out her hand and tried to express her appreciation, but the words were slow in coming. Mr. Ashe saw her difficulty, and in a moment had put her at ease by a.s.suring her that the pleasure of knowing the We Are Sevens had more than compensated for what little he had done.
"But it hasn"t been a little, Mr. Ashe," Mrs. Parker insisted. "It has been a very great deal. The Texas trip was wonderful. Amanda will never forget it--never! She talks about it every day, and her descriptions of the Blue Bonnet ranch are so vivid that I almost feel as if I had seen it."
Blue Bonnet ranch opened up a score of possibilities, and Mr. Ashe and Mrs. Parker were soon chatting like old friends.
"I don"t wonder that the girls are enthusiastic about Mr. Ashe," she said to her husband later in the evening. "I had a perfectly delightful visit with him. He"s as plain as can be! n.o.body would dream he had so much money."
Nor was Mrs. Parker the only one who found Mr. Ashe delightful. Mr.
Blake and his wife; Debby"s parents; Doctor Clark, all enjoyed talking with the man who had on several occasions played the fairy G.o.dfather to their children.
It was a most informal gathering. The guests chatted in groups or found places at card tables, which had been prepared for those who preferred a rubber of whist. The dining-room was very attractive with its wealth of fruit blossoms. Mrs. Parker, sitting at one end of the table, poured coffee, while Debby"s mother at the other served chocolate. An atmosphere of hospitality and kindliness prevailed. It was Knight who at an opportune time proposed a toast to the guest of honor, and Mr. Ashe responded in a fitting manner. Altogether the evening was p.r.o.nounced a great success.
"Don"t you think it would be lovely to end the party with a Virginia reel?" Kitty suggested to Blue Bonnet, who instantly favored the idea.
The older guests protested that a Virginia reel was a part of youth, and not of middle age; but the young people insisted, and two lines were drawn up on either side of the parlor for the dance, while Blue Bonnet furnished the music. Kitty led with Mr. Ashe. He bowed with old-fashioned courtesy to the little b.u.t.terfly partner, who proceeded to lead him a merry chase down the middle and back again; hurrying him through the steps in true twentieth-century fashion.
"Wasn"t it a fine party, Uncle Cliff?" Blue Bonnet inquired after the last guest had gone, and she sat down breathless in her favorite chair to talk things over.
"Splendid, Honey! I"m very grateful to the We Are Sevens."
"Oh, you needn"t be. They adored doing it. They admire you terribly, Uncle Cliff, terribly!"
Mr. Ashe smiled--a little tender smile--as his eyes rested on Blue Bonnet"s happy face.
"Society has never been much in my line, Honey; but I"ve enjoyed to-night more than I can tell you. It was very pleasant to be so nicely entertained. I hardly realize what a lonely life I lead until I get in the midst of so much merriment. It does one good to let down the bars and loosen up the reins occasionally. I"ve almost made up my mind to turn the ranch over to Uncle Joe next winter and take a house in Boston.
Would you like that, Blue Bonnet? Or, if you are still in school, I might manage to exist in a hotel until you finish. I know that you can"t desert Grandmother for the ranch again."
Mrs. Clyde cast a grateful glance in Mr. Ashe"s direction.
"I feel it is a great deal to ask," she said, "but--it would be very hard to give Blue Bonnet up--now."
Blue Bonnet was out of her chair instantly and on her uncle"s knee.
"Uncle Cliff!" she gasped, "do you really truly mean it? A home in Boston?"
"I really truly mean it, Honey. Life"s too short for these long separations."
Round his neck, in a close embrace, went Blue Bonnet"s arms, and her face glowed with joy.
"But we"re not going to give up the ranch altogether, Uncle Cliff? We couldn"t, you know!"
"No, not altogether, Honey. I reckon the summers will find us there pretty regularly; and there"s Gabriel now, remember. We can"t desert the little fellow when he needs us so."
"We wouldn"t desert the Blue Bonnet ranch anyway--under any circ.u.mstances. We"ll just be commuters, and sort of vibrate between our old home and the new--then we"ll all be happy."
CHAPTER XX
THE JUNIOR SPREAD