CHAPTER XVI
ANTICIPATIONS
Spring had come at last. In Woodford, up among the hills, the We AreSevens--or "Sixes," in the absence of Blue Bonnet--were celebrating itsadvent with a riding party.
It was Saturday afternoon, as might be suspected from the leisurely waythe girls rode through the woods, stopping often to admire the maplesand elms and the beautiful chestnuts, just beginning to feel the thrillof life after their long winter nap.
"Seems to me those leaves grow greener while you wait," Kitty Clarksaid, reining her horse beside a chuckling brook and pointing to anear-by birch grove. "I feel just like this water. I want to run as fastas I can, calling, 'Spring is here! Spring is here!' Don't you perfectlylove this odor of growing things? Listen to that phoebe! Doesn't itsound as if he were saying, 'Spring's come! Spring's come!'"
She was off her horse before the other girls had time to answer,climbing the steep sides of the glen in search of the first hepaticas.
"Here they are!" she called back joyfully a moment later. Under thelichen-plastered rocks, among the damp leaves, the delicate blossomspeeped forth shyly. Kitty fell upon her knees and buried her nose in thedelicious fragrance.
"Oh, the darlings!" Debby exclaimed, close behind. "Girls! Let's gatheras many as we can find, and send a box of them to Blue Bonnet. Rememberhow she raved over them last year? She said they were almost as lovelyas the blue bonnets that bloom in Texas about this time."
The suggestion met with instant approval, and for the next half hour sixgirls worked busily.
"Seems to me they're awfully early this year," Amanda said, searchingunder the mahogany colored leaves for the little furred heads. "I neverknew them to come before April."
"Oh, you forget from year to year, Amanda," Kitty reminded. "Anyway,it's almost April. A week from to-day is the first. That's the day BlueBonnet gets here. And, by the way, I have a letter from Blue Bonnet. Itcame just as I was leaving the house and I waited until we were alltogether to read it. Suppose we go up on the hill a little farther andget in a patch of sunshine. It's a trifle chilly in the shade, even ifMr. Phoebe does keep insisting that 'Spring's come!'"
"Humph! Short and sweet," Kitty commented, as she drew forth the letter."Suppose it is because she will be with us so soon."
"DEAREST GIRLS:--
"This is a joint letter to-day. I am so busy with exams this week that I can't do much letter writing. The tests have been something awful. The girls say they grow stiffer all the time--- but no matter! I daresay you have troubles in this line of your own.
"I have the pleasure to inform you, girls, that Uncle Cliff will be in Boston the first day of April, and that he has written me to invite the We Are Sevens to be his guests at the Copley Plaza for three days, beginning on that date. This means that we shall all return to Woodford together for the rest of my vacation. I hope nothing will prevent your acceptance. Grandmother and Aunt Lucinda have been included in the invitation, so you will be well chaperoned. Please answer as soon as possible, so that Uncle Cliff can make his reservations at the hotel. I know that we are going to have a splendid time. Bring your prettiest clothes, as there will be something doing every minute. I can hardly wait to see you all, and to have the 'Lambs' meet you.
"Hoping to hear from you very soon, "I am, ever with dearest love, "BLUE BONNET."
There was an instant's silence after Kitty stopped reading, and theneverybody broke forth at once.
"At the Copley Plaza! For three days! To visit Blue Bonnet!"
"Isn't it a blessing that our vacation begins on the first, too?" Debbysaid. "There ought not to be a thing to hinder our going."
"Nothing but--just one thing, Debby. It takes a lot of pretty clothes tostay in a place like the Copley Plaza. And those 'Lambs!' Blue Bonnetsays they dress beautifully. Now, what have we got to wear in a crowdlike that?"
"If they're going to like us just for our clothes, Kitty!" protestedAmanda. "Besides, you have that new blue voile; you're a dream in it;and Sarah has her wine-colored henrietta. Maybe the rest of us couldscrape up something; there's--let's see, four or five days yet."
"Maybe we could get something in Boston," Debby suggested. "Blue Bonnetsays they have wonderful bargains. You know she got all her clothes forschool ready made, and they were as stylish as could be."
"Perhaps we could; that's an idea, Debby," Kitty remarked thankfully."It's time for spring clothes anyway. We shouldn't want Blue Bonnet tobe ashamed of us."
Debby scoffed.
"Blue Bonnet wouldn't be ashamed of us--no matter what we wear. She'snot that kind."
"But she'd like to be proud of us, nevertheless. Those 'Lambs' comefrom awfully rich families; they must, or they couldn't be in thatschool. It costs a small fortune to go there."
"Blue Bonnet says they are not a bit airy, though, Kitty; and you hardlyever hear a word about money. Blue Bonnet says Miss North is a regularstickler for simplicity, and that she's forever telling the girls whereto place values in this world."
"Where does she place them--these values? What are values anyway?"
It was Sarah's turn to speak up quietly.
"I believe I know," she said. "That's one of father's hobbies. It meansgetting a true estimate of life. We should value things that are worthwhile, like education and refinement, honesty and courage. It's veryvulgar to put value on money; gentle birth and good breeding count formuch more."
"I guess our grandsires could measure up with anybody's," Amanda saidproudly. "We're every one eligible to the Daughters of the Revolution."
"What's the matter with the We Are Sevens?" Kitty shouted, and the resttook up the cry:
"Who's all right? We're all right!"
Down the hill they ran merrily, and scrambled into saddles for a wildgallop home. Such news was too good to keep, and before the evening washalf spent, arrangements were completed for the coming event, and aletter posted to Blue Bonnet.
And in Boston a young girl awaited the first of April with joy thatknew no bounds.
"Only two days more until Uncle Cliff comes, now, Joy," she said,tearing a leaf off from the calendar. "Seems to me I just can't wait. Inever was so anxious to see him in my life."
Joy smiled sympathetically.
"It will be lovely," she said. "And you have planned so many things todo, Blue Bonnet. I've been wondering if your uncle will wish to keep allthese engagements."
Blue Bonnet turned toward Joy quickly.
"You don't know Uncle Cliff," she said gaily. "He'll have the time ofhis life. He wrote me that three days were at my disposal; to fill themany way I chose. Want to hear the program?"
"Love to," Joy answered.
"Well, Uncle Cliff gets here the morning of the first; that's Friday."
She went to her desk and taking out an engagement book, began turningthe leaves hastily.
"Arrives at eight-fifteen. That ought to get him up here about nine, atthe very latest."
"Oh, let the poor man get his breakfast first."
"He'll have that on the train, thank you. Then let me see; yes--here:Nine o'clock, visit with Uncle Cliff. Ten, shopping. Eleven o'clock,hospital. I have a little plan about that. One, luncheon. Two o'clock,matinee--or something; haven't planned that yet. Five, meet AuntLucinda and the girls from Woodford. Eight, theatre--"
"Mercy, Blue Bonnet, what a mad scramble! And after a five days' journeyacross the continent I should think your uncle would be dead!"
"I hadn't thought of that," Blue Bonnet said, contritely. "Perhaps we_had_ better cut out the matinee. I shouldn't wonder if we had. It wouldbe hard on Grandmother, too. But you have to do a lot, Joy! Three daysslip away before you know it. Now that brings us up to Saturday, doesn'tit? Saturday; let me see. Here it is! Saturday, A. M.: Nine o'clock,shopping. Have a little plan about that, too, if Uncle Cliff's willing;know he will be. One, lunch. Two, motor ride. Six o'clock, dinner forthe Lambs and the We Are Sevens. You're in on
that, too, Joy; you andMrs. White. Eight, theatre. Sunday. Eleven o'clock, church at Trinity;hope the Bishop preaches. Two o'clock, visit with relatives. Seven,tea--at relatives, probably. Monday morning--Woodford. Soundsfascinating, doesn't it?"
"Alluring, Blue Bonnet. I hope you'll have a happy time."
"I shall, I'm sure, Joy. I've got to run up-stairs now a minute to talkthings over with Carita. Carita goes with me to Woodford for the rest ofthe vacation."
"Begins to look like a holiday," Blue Bonnet thought as she wentthrough the halls and noticed the trunks at each door. "Wonder if Caritais packing."
But Carita was not packing. She was sitting listlessly in a chair by thewindow, looking a bit forlorn.
"What's the matter, Carita?" Blue Bonnet inquired.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? You look as if you had the blues."
"No--only--"
"Only what?"
Tears welled in Carita's eyes.
"Only what, dear?" Blue Bonnet's arms were round her.
"I reckon it's just a touch of homesickness. It's seeing the girlspacking to go home. I want so to see mother--and Baby Joe. They sayshe's so darling now. Oh, my arms just ache to hold him sometimes, BlueBonnet--and--and--Texas is so far away, isn't it?"
The tears were coming in a flood now, and Blue Bonnet got out herhandkerchief to stop the flow.
"There! there!" she said. "Just think what a good time we're going tohave with Uncle Cliff; and it's only a little while until the tenth ofJune. Why, the time will just fly after Easter, and--oh, my dear, bethankful that you have a mother to go to--suppose--"
But Carita had turned suddenly and gathered Blue Bonnet in a lovingembrace.
"How selfish I am," she said, between sobs. "I didn't think, BlueBonnet--really, I didn't."
"Of course you didn't. And I didn't mean to remind you; it just slippedout. Sometimes it does, when I see girls crying for their mothers and Iremember that I shall--never--have mine. Now, don't cry--please don't.Where's Mary?"
Through her tears Carita smiled.
"She and Peg--Jerusha Austin are down in the office. Fraulein is afterthem again. Last night, when the trunks were brought up, Mary and Peggywaited until the lights were out and then they fixed up a tick-tack.They hid in the trunks and worked the thing for almost an hour. It wasawfully spooky--nearly scared Fraulein to death. She's just furious atboth of them."
"How did she find them?"
"Oh, Mary got the giggles! Mary would laugh at her own funeral. Peggywas so cross at her. Fraulein traced the giggles to Mary's trunk."
At that instant the door opened and Mary came in, followed by Peggy.
"What did you get this time, Mary?" Carita asked.
Mary, laughed sheepishly.
"You talk as if I'd been sentenced," she said, smiling, and showingevery one of her beautiful teeth.
"Weren't you?"
"No, not this time. Miss North was so disgusted she didn't do a thing.She made us feel as if we were infants; said she thought smothering in atrunk for an hour was punishment enough for anybody. She just talked!"
"And--_talked_!" Peggy added.
"She said that we'd so wrecked Fraulein's nerves--Peg and I--thatFraulein was leaving the school--wasn't coming back after Easter."
"Really? Is that true, Peggy?"
"That we've wrecked her nerves? Hardly. That's just letting her downeasy. Miss North's dead tired of her, herself."
"Who's going to take her place?"
"Miss North didn't take us into her confidence," Mary said flippantly."But I shouldn't wonder if Joy Cross substituted until they getsomebody. Joy's a whiz in German. She's had us two or three times latelywhen Fraulein was having one of her tantrums--beg pardon, nervousbreak-ups."
Blue Bonnet rose to go.
"Wait a minute, Blue Bonnet," Carita said. "I've some news for you. Whatdo you think! Knight Judson's coming to Boston; my cousin, you know.He's coming with your Uncle Cliff. I've just had a letter."
"Knight Judson! What for?"
"He's always wanted to come, and now he has the opportunity. He's beenwild to study engineering, saved his money for it for a long time.Well--he had a chance to come on and do a little work at theMassachusetts Tech. It's awfully late in the year, of course, to enter,but he wants to look up a lot of things and be ready to start in thefall. I'm so anxious to see him. He'll have so much news from home."
"And Sandy? Why didn't he come, too?"
"He will, next year."
"It will be fine to see Knight again," Blue Bonnet said. "Alec will bedelighted to know he's coming. They were great friends in Texas."
"Yes, Knight is going to Washington first, then on to Woodford for a fewdays, with Alec."
"How splendid! Oh, Carita, everything is going so beautifully that italmost makes me afraid. I feel as if the fairies had given me threewishes and they had all come true. I don't know whether I can walkdown-stairs or not. I feel like taking a flying leap."
"Take the banister," Mary suggested. "It's safer, and heaps more fun. Itried it yesterday."
Blue Bonnet looked properly shocked.
"Fortunate you didn't run into any one," she remarked.
"But I did! A nice lady who was trying to find Madam de Cartier. Wefell--all in a heap!"
* * * * *
The morning of the first of April broke clear and calm.
"Even the weather is on my side," Blue Bonnet said. "I ought to be thevery happiest girl in the world--and I am!"
It was a busy time at the school; a general breaking up for springvacation. In the halls girls scurried in every direction and hastygood-bys were said; trunks were carried out noisily by carelessexpressmen to the vans that stood waiting outside.
"Terribly exciting, isn't it?" Sue said, passing Blue Bonnet in the hallshortly after breakfast. "I'm so glad Annabel and I are staying overuntil Monday. Has your uncle arrived yet?"
"I'm just watching for him. He should be here in about ten minutes. I'mkeeping my eye on the front door--oh, Sue, there's a ring now; perhapsit's he! It is! It is!"
And the next moment Blue Bonnet was folded in her uncle's arms.
"Uncle Cliff! dear Uncle Cliff!" she cried, rapturously, while she ledhim toward the reception-room, holding to his arm tightly as if by somechance he might escape. "How ever did you get up here so soon? It's onlya quarter to nine, now."
"Taxi, Honey. And the train was on time, fortunately. Come over to thelight and let me have a look at you. Why, child, how you have grown! Andwhat's this--long dresses! Honey, Honey, where's Uncle Cliff's littlegirl?"
There was a note in the man's voice that struck deep at the girl'sheart.
"Here she is," she cried, snuggling into the warm embrace again. "She'llnever be anything but a little girl to you--never! That's properlength--just a speck below my shoe-tops. Will you sit here a minutewhile I find Carita? Poor Carita has been a little homesick the last fewdays. It's seeing the girls start for home, I reckon."
She was away in a trice, bringing back Carita, who welcomed Uncle Cliffwith almost as much enthusiasm as Blue Bonnet had.
"Now the plans, Honey. What are they?" Mr. Ashe said, looking at hiswatch. "Have you had breakfast?"
"Uncle Cliff! An hour ago."
"Well, I haven't. Suppose you get your things together--both of you--andcome over to the hotel with me right away. The taxi is waiting."
It didn't take the girls long to get their suitcases and run back to Mr.Ashe.
"All ready?" he inquired.
"Just as soon as we say good-by to Miss North."
At the hotel Blue Bonnet and Carita found themselves in the daintiestsuite of rooms imaginable.
"I will come for you in twenty minutes," Mr. Ashe said. "Then we willgo down to breakfast. I have a suspicion that you could eat another biteif you tried, while we talk over the plans. Suppose you have them allsettled, Honey?"
"Yes, I have, Uncle Cliff. It's going to be very strenuous, too, I'ma
fraid. I hope you aren't awfully, _awfully_ tired."
At which Uncle Cliff smiled one of his tender, adoring smiles, andpatted Blue Bonnet's shoulder affectionately.
"I think I shall be equal to the demand," he said, and was off.
In the dining-room a cosy table was found for three. Many a head turnedin passing to gaze at the little party, who, oblivious to time orsurroundings, chatted merrily.
It was after they had left the dining-room, that Blue Bonnet, pausing ather uncle's door, asked Carita if she would mind going on to their roomsfor just a minute: she had something she must say to Uncle Cliffalone--a secret.
"It's this, Uncle Cliff," she said, when the door had closed, "I want totalk something over with you before Aunt Lucinda comes. You see, I'm notquite sure she'd approve of it, and I want so much to do it. That is--Iwant to, if we can--without hurting anybody's feelings."
"All right, Honey. What is it?"
She was holding on to Uncle Cliff's coat lapels now, and looking upinto his face with the childish trust and confidence she had shown sincebabyhood, and the man's arm went round her as of old, protectingly.
"You see, it's this way, Uncle Cliff. There's that dinner for the Lambsand the We Are Sevens to-morrow night. Every single one of the Lambsordered a new gown to wear. I didn't want them to--but they would doit--and--I'm afraid it's going to make the We Are Sevens sort ofuncomfortable. So I was thinking, Uncle Cliff--I was _wishing_that--we--you and I, maybe--could have a little shopping expeditionto-morrow morning and--"
She stopped short, not knowing how to go on without putting herself inthe wrong light.
"You understand--don't you, Uncle Cliff? It isn't that I'd be ashamed ofthe girls; you know that. Their clothes are all right--only I know howgirls feel not to be dressed quite like others. It makes them awkwardand ill at ease, and--"
Mr. Ashe bent over and imprinted a kiss on the brown head, and for amoment his eyes were suspiciously bright.
"I understand perfectly, Honey," he said.
"But just how could we do it, Uncle Cliff--get them some pretty thingswithout making them think--that--that their things weren't right,--goodenough, you know? It's an awfully delicate matter."
"SHE WAS HOLDING ON TO UNCLE CLIFF'S COAT LAPELS."]
"So it is, Honey, but I think we can find a way. Was it some prettyfrocks you wanted to give them?"
"Oh, if I only _could_, Uncle Cliff. Gowns and slippers to match, andI'd thought of some pretty evening wraps, too. You see, we're going tothe theatre, and supper afterward, and the Lambs have such pretty ones.We could afford it, couldn't we? There's no one to spend money on butpoor little me."
Mr. Ashe laughed as he smoothed out a pucker in his niece's brow.
"I don't think you need worry about the expense," he said. "You are veryfortunate in that respect, Blue Bonnet, and you know I always approve ofspending money where it means happiness. Do you need a new frock,too,--and Carita, perhaps?"
"We could each use one," Blue Bonnet answered, "though I suppose AuntLucinda wouldn't exactly think _I_ needed it."
"This isn't Aunt Lucinda's affair," Mr. Ashe replied quickly. "It'smine, Honey. How would this do? We'll take the We Are Sevens shoppingwith us to-morrow morning and when you and Carita have selected yourgowns I will suggest that the others select too--a little gift fromme--or from you, if you think best."
Blue Bonnet clapped her hands with delight.
"The very thing," she cried. "Then they can't think it was planned.They'll be so delighted. Oh, Uncle Cliff, you are so dear, _so dear_!"The last dear was emphasized with a resounding kiss. "I'm so happy; _sohappy_ that it seems as if I couldn't stand it. Isn't this a beautifulold world? Now, we must hurry. I want to get you out to the hospital tosee Gabriel the very first thing."
Blue Bonnet had explained at breakfast all about Gabriel, and UncleCliff had said little. But he was ready for further investigation.
"I'm not sure that I like the idea of you going about these hospitals,Honey--especially where patients are tubercular. You can contract thesethings, you know."
Blue Bonnet laughed her scorn.
"How perfectly ridiculous! I'm as healthy as ever I can be. Why, look atme! I've put on eight pounds in three months. That's the very worst ofboarding-school--- it's bound to make you fat. Poor Wee Watts isdiscouraged to death."
At the hospital, although it was not visiting hour, they were allowed tosee Gabriel.
"He's not been so well the past week," Miss Warren, the nurse, said. "Ithink it is the confinement. It is beginning to tell upon him. He oughtto be out in the country in the sunshine."
Blue Bonnet sat down on the bed and took hold of the little hand. It washot and feverish.
"What's the matter, Gabriel?" she said. "This won't do. You promised methat you would get well."
"I will," the child maintained stoutly. "There ain't nothing thematter." The bright eyes flashed a smile.
"We're twins,--me and her," Gabriel announced, directing his remarks toMr. Ashe. "Our birthdays are the same."
"So I understand."
"Are you her father?"
"Yes, and her uncle, too."
Gabriel seemed mystified.
"You see, I haven't any father--or mother either, Gabriel. My uncle hasto be both," Blue Bonnet explained.
"That's like me, too. I'm a orphant!"
Blue Bonnet caught her breath quickly. To be an orphan--and ill;desperately poor, too! The world wasn't such a cheerful place after all.
"I lent the soldiers to another feller," Gabriel said presently. "He'ssicker than I am."
"Then you shall have some more, Gabriel. It was fine of you to be sounselfish."
"I wasn't. They made me!"
The nurse started to explain. Gabriel interrupted.
"I want my own--they can fight like--I didn't say it, did I? I told youI wouldn't never again, Miss Warren."
Miss Warren's brow cleared.
"These children have some street expressions that are hard to break,"she said. "Gabriel is trying very hard to be a gentleman. He got soexcited over the soldiers, Miss Ashe, that we had to take them away."
"_She_ says--" Gabriel began, pointing to Blue Bonnet, "she says you gotponies where you live, an' you can ride 'em. Can you?"
Mr. Ashe smiled.
"Yes. Lots of them. Would you like to ride a pony, Gabriel?"
"Bet yer!"
Mr. Ashe rose and took the nurse to one side.
"Just how ill is this child?" he asked, much moved. "Is there any chancefor his recovery?"
"Yes--yes, indeed, under the right conditions. He has tuberculosis ofthe knee. If only a home could be found for him in the country! He's anunusually bright child, and so lovable. I feel sure that he must comefrom excellent Jewish people, though he was brought here from thetenement district a few months ago--just after his mother died."
"And you think he'd have a chance in the country?"
"I'm very sure of it, sir."
Mr. Ashe turned away abruptly. Before his eyes swept a vision of theBlue Bonnet ranch--its vast roaming acres; its clear beautiful skies andwarm sunshine; of old, lonely Benita, and Uncle Joe. There was ampleroom _there_--room that shamed him when he looked at this pitiful wastedbit of humanity dying for the need of what it offered.
He went back to the little cot and touched Blue Bonnet's arm lightly.
"Come, Honey," he said. "I think it's time we were going. We'll seeGabriel again."