"What am I going to furnish?" Blue Bonnet inquired. "Is there any other way you shine in the culinary line, Knight?"
"You furnish the house and the guest of honor! Isn't that enough for one person, I should like to know?" Kitty said. "Seems to me you ought to be satisfied. If I could bring out an Uncle Cliff I should consider that I had done all the community could ask of me."
"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?"
"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.