Part 63 (1/2)

”There, now, here is just the place for a boy to get things that are unpleasant off his mind, I take it,” he said, closing the door on them both. ”Sit down and tell me what is troubling you, Percy.”

”Can't I stand up, Grandpapa?” asked Percy, over by the table.

”To be sure,” laughed Grandpapa; ”stand up or sit down, just as you choose.

Only let us get at this bugaboo that is worrying you, my boy. Out with it.”

”It isn't a bugaboo,” said Percy, with open eyes; ”it's a plan, Grandpapa.

Only I can't find Ben,” and he began to be dismal once more. ”Dear me!

where can he be!”

”Oh, it's a plan, is it?” said Grandpapa, vastly relieved. ”Well, well!”

Then he began to laugh. ”And so you wanted Ben to help you with it, eh?”

”Yes, Grandpapa,” said Percy, his happiness returning, and he deserted the table and ran up to the old gentleman's side. ”You see, Rachel is coming.”

”Yes, she is,” said old Mr. King, with a satisfied nod, ”and you like it, I hope, my boy.” He looked up with a keen glance.

”Awfully,” said Percy, great satisfaction settling over his face.

”Well, I think all of us like the plan,” remarked the old gentleman, in extreme complacency at achieving the visit, ”for she's a very nice girl, Rachel is, it appears to me.”

”She's awfully good fun,” said Percy, ”only Joel will make her play with him all the time, I suppose,” and his face fell.

”Oh, you must cut Joe out,” said old Mr. King, laughing heartily.

”I can't,” said Percy dismally; ”we can't any of us, Grandpapa,” and he opened his blue eyes very wide at the mere thought.

”Well, yes, I think we are all pleased, very much pleased indeed that Rachel is coming,” repeated old Mr. King, going back to the expected visit, ”and, as she comes to-morrow----”

”To-morrow!” echoed Percy, aghast, ”why, then I can't get up my surprise, Grandpapa.” For, strange to say, the time of the arrival had slipped from his mind. The old gentleman hastened to comfort him.

”Suppose you tell me the grand plan,” he said at last; ”then we'll see if there won't be time enough.”

”Oh, I was going to get Ben to take me out into the woods to-morrow,”

said Percy, feeling as if he should very much like to cry, he was so disappointed, ”and we could have dug up some cunning little plants and ferns: Rachel said she liked them at the garden party. We could have planted them in a box, and 'twould have been so nice, and now it's too late.” And, overcome with despair, he sat down on the first thing he could find, which was a pile of books on the floor.

”Take care,” warned Grandpapa, but over Percy had gone, the books flying all ways under him.

”I'll pick them up,” he cried, when he could get his breath.

”I am glad you are not hurt,” said Grandpapa King, with a rueful glance at the big reference volumes, only laid out for his use that morning, which certainly wouldn't be improved by their fall. ”Here, wait a bit, and I'll help you, Percy, my boy,” and he got out of his chair.

”Oh, I can do it; let me, Grandpapa; let me do it alone,” begged Percy, tugging at the books and piling as rapidly as he could, for they were quite heavy. ”There, see, they're almost back again”--as he staggered up with the last one.

”Not quite so fast,” said Grandpapa King, lending his hand to the task.

”Now next time when you want to sit down, I advise you to take a chair, Percy, my boy. Well, now, let us think how you can get up a nice little surprise for Rachel when she comes to-morrow.”