CHAPTER XIX
A SURPRISE PARTY
The We Are Sevens, meeting for the first time in several months for thetransaction of business, had selected Mrs. Clyde's orchard as the bestpossible place to hold council.
"You can't sit under fruit-trees in bloom every day in the year," Debbyhad insisted. "I'm for that bench under the peach-tree, myself."
The orchard was alluring. A delicious fragrance filled the air. Thepeach-trees were crowded with bloom, and the pear-trees threatened everymoment to outrival their neighbors in gorgeous blossom. Out in the lawncrocuses lifted their heads; daffodils and hyacinths breathed forththeir sweetness, and in the elms, birds twittered and sang of spring asthey built their nests.
Sarah had brought her sewing, which she pursued diligently. Kitty had abook to read to the girls if they ever stopped talking long enough tolisten; and Amanda swayed back and forth in the hammock lazily. KnightJudson, strolling by, thought it a very attractive group, and hoped thegirls would see fit to invite him in.
Blue Bonnet, glancing down the road, spied him, and with a smilebeckoned to him.
"Sit down," she said, making room for him on the bench beside her. "Thisis a club meeting, but we're almost through. Love to have you stay tolunch, if you can stand so many girls all at once. I'm going to see ifKatie will give it to us out here. We can use that rustic table overthere."
"Lovely!" the girls cried in a breath. "Make Knight carry out thechairs."
"Knight's awfully obliging, isn't he?" Kitty Clark said from hercushion, as she watched his long limbs disappear in the doorway. "And soterribly good looking! How do you suppose he ever got such adorablemanners on a Texas range? I noticed them the first time I ever met him.He's really polished, _I_ should say."
"It's a good thing Blue Bonnet didn't hear you say that," Amanda said,"and--why, Kitty--don't you see Carita? You ought to know that Texaspeople are the most courteous in the world after last summer. I thinkyou owe Carita an apology."
Kitty hastened to make amends.
"Don't bother," Carita said generously. "I know how you feel about it.One doesn't have much society where we live in Texas; but it doesn'tmatter--if one is _born_ a gentleman."
Blue Bonnet came out of the house with a tea-cloth, followed by Knightand Delia with the chairs.
"There's gingerbread!" Debby announced, sniffing. "My, doesn't it smellgood!"
"Yes, and little hot biscuits with orange marmalade," Blue Bonnet added."Cold ham and hot chocolate, too. Katie's an old dear, isn't she?"
It was a merry party, and Knight seemed quite at home, even if he wasthe only man in sight. He admitted that he had never been so popular inhis life, and was enjoying the novelty.
"Girls," Amanda said, when the meal was nearly finished. "I havesomething to propose. You needn't go away, Knight. Maybe you can helpus. Blue Bonnet doesn't know anything about it--but--we're going to havea party, and it's to be for Mr. Ashe."
"For Uncle Cliff!" Blue Bonnet said, amazed. "What kind of a party?"
"That's to be decided," Amanda continued. "_I'm_ in favor of having itto-morrow night, if we can get ready. It's to be a surprise party--thatis, Mr. Ashe isn't to know a thing about it. He's been so perfectlyangelic to all of us that we thought it would be nice to show him ourappreciation if we could. Do you think he'd like it, Blue Bonnet? Thatis, if we could get all our parents to come?"
"I think he'd adore it. Where are you going to have it?"
"We haven't decided yet. Where do you think would be the nicest place?You can come to our house--"
"Why not have it here?" Blue Bonnet interrupted. "I know Grandmotherwouldn't mind. In fact, I think she'd love it. I'll go ask her."
She was off before the girls could remonstrate and back again with thewelcome news that Aunt Lucinda and Grandmother thought it was the properplace to have it.
"All right," the girls agreed, "only--there's one thing we insist upon,Blue Bonnet, _we_ furnish the refreshments. We're going to make them. Itwon't be hard, dividing it between us."
"May I turn the ice-cream freezer?" Knight inquired. "I'm quite expertat it."
"You certainly may," Kitty replied. "I engage you right now, and you mayreport at my house any time before noon to-morrow."
"And when Kitty's through with you, you can come over to our house andhelp stir cakes. I'm down for angel food, and I loathe beating up theeggs," Amanda said.
Knight promised solemnly.
"What am I going to furnish?" Blue Bonnet inquired. "Is there any otherway you shine in the culinary line, Knight?"
"You furnish the house and the guest of honor! Isn't that enough forone person, I should like to know?" Kitty said. "Seems to me you oughtto be satisfied. If I could bring out an Uncle Cliff I should considerthat 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 havesome claim to Knight's society to-morrow. If he's not utterly worn outwith you and Amanda he could help me boil sugar."
"Candy's my specialty," Knight declared. "I could come over to-night andwe'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 comeover just the same."
The arrangements were soon completed. Blue Bonnet was to waylay Mr. Asheand not let him escape next day until the party was over.
"That will be easy," she remarked. "You couldn't drive Uncle Cliff awayuntil my vacation is over. He'll be on hand, don't worry." But great washer 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 greatlyexcited.
"Here, Honey. Why, what's the matter? You look as if something dreadfulwere 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 ortwo."
"To-day? Oh, Uncle Cliff, not to-day! You can't--possibly. We need youhere. We've just _got_ to have you. You said you would stay with me _twowhole weeks_. How can you leave me a single minute when we've beenseparated 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 tothe farm; and--oh, heaps of things. And to-night--if you'll just stayover _to-night_, Uncle Cliff, I'll try to spare you to-morrow. Really, Iwill. 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 dayor two. Why, here, here, Honey! What's this?"
Two big, bright tears had splashed down upon his cheeks, and he raisedhis eyes to behold a very doleful Blue Bonnet.
"Nothing--only--I'm so frightfully disappointed. Uncle Cliff, I need youto-night. I want you!"
"I didn't suppose it was as serious as all that, Blue Bonnet. Dry thosetears. I'll stay, of course."
That evening when the guests had all gathered, and Uncle Cliff had beeninformed as to the significance of the occasion, Blue Bonnet whisperedin his ear:
"Wouldn't it have been perfectly dreadful if you had gone away thismorning, with all these kind people waiting to do you honor? Why, the WeAre Sevens would never have got over it."
"Neither should I, Honey," Mr. Ashe said. "I feel quite like adebutante. This is the first time a party ever was given in my honor. Iassure you I am deeply indebted to the We Are Sevens."
"It's a 'get acquainted' affair, Mr. Ashe," Kitty said, coming up behindhim and insisting upon his meeting everybody at once. "This is myfather, Doctor Clark--think you've met before; and this is Amanda'smother: she's dying to thank you for all the lovely things you've donefor us. Aren't you, Mrs. Parker?"
"But it hasn't been a little, Mr. Ashe," Mrs. Parker insisted. "It hasbeen a very great deal. The Texas trip was wonderful. Amanda will neverforget it--never! She talks about it every day, and her descriptions ofthe Blue Bonnet ranch are so vivid that I almost feel as if I had seenit."
Blue Bonnet ranch opened up a score of possibilities, and Mr. Ashe andMrs. Parker were soon chatting like old friends.
"I don't wonder that the girls are enthusiastic about Mr. Ashe," shesaid to her husband later in the evening. "I had a perfectly delightfulvisit with him. He's as plain as can be! Nobody would dream he had somuch 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 talkingwith the man who had on several occasions played the fairy godfather totheir children.
It was a most informal gathering. The guests chatted in groups or foundplaces at card tables, which had been prepared for those who preferred arubber of whist. The dining-room was very attractive with its wealth offruit blossoms. Mrs. Parker, sitting at one end of the table, pouredcoffee, while Debby's mother at the other served chocolate. Anatmosphere of hospitality and kindliness prevailed. It was Knight who atan opportune time proposed a toast to the guest of honor, and Mr. Asheresponded in a fitting manner. Altogether the evening was pronounced agreat success.
"Don't you think it would be lovely to end the party with a Virginiareel?" Kitty suggested to Blue Bonnet, who instantly favored the idea.The older guests protested that a Virginia reel was a part of youth, andnot of middle age; but the young people insisted, and two lines weredrawn up on either side of the parlor for the dance, while Blue Bonnetfurnished the music. Kitty led with Mr. Ashe. He bowed withold-fashioned courtesy to the little butterfly partner, who proceeded tolead him a merry chase down the middle and back again; hurrying himthrough the steps in true twentieth-century fashion.
"Wasn't it a fine party, Uncle Cliff?" Blue Bonnet inquired after thelast guest had gone, and she sat down breathless in her favorite chairto 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 BlueBonnet's happy face.
"Society has never been much in my line, Honey; but I've enjoyedto-night more than I can tell you. It was very pleasant to be so nicelyentertained. I hardly realize what a lonely life I lead until I get inthe midst of so much merriment. It does one good to let down the barsand loosen up the reins occasionally. I've almost made up my mind toturn 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, Imight manage to exist in a hotel until you finish. I know that you can'tdesert 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 veryhard 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 inBoston?"
"I really truly mean it, Honey. Life's too short for these longseparations."
Round his neck, in a close embrace, went Blue Bonnet's arms, and herface glowed with joy.
"But we're not going to give up the ranch altogether, Uncle Cliff? Wecouldn't, you know!"
"No, not altogether, Honey. I reckon the summers will find us therepretty regularly; and there's Gabriel now, remember. We can't desertthe little fellow when he needs us so."
"We wouldn't desert the Blue Bonnet ranch anyway--under anycircumstances. We'll just be commuters, and sort of vibrate between ourold home and the new--then we'll all be happy."
Blue Bonnet in Boston; or, Boarding-School Days at Miss North's Page 19