Part 11 (1/2)

Blue Bonnet smiled broadly.

”Oh, do let him, Grandmother. There'll be plenty of things left for to-morrow.”

”Your Uncle is your legal guardian, dear. I think the privilege is his without asking.”

”What is the present? Where is it?” Blue Bonnet asked, her eyes s.h.i.+ning.

”I think Grandmother took it up in your room. I suspect you might find it there.”

Mrs. Clyde nodded.

Blue Bonnet was out of the room and climbing the stairs in a twinkling.

A second later Grandmother and Uncle Cliff heard a shout of joy, then laughter and animated conversation.

”She found it without much difficulty,” Mr. Ashe said, smiling.

A moment later he was being smothered in caresses, and a voice was saying between tears and laughter:

”Oh, Uncle Cliff, if you aren't the darlingest, best uncle anybody in this world ever had!” While a slim, shy young girl with soft brown eyes looked on with interest.

There was an explanation on Uncle Cliff's part, and then Blue Bonnet took the girl's hand in her own affectionately.

”Carita,” she said, ”have you met the family? You remember Grandmother, of course; and this is my aunt, Miss Clyde. Aunt Lucinda, this is Carita Judson. She's come to go with me to Miss North's, and I'm the happiest girl in Ma.s.sachusetts!”

CHAPTER V

BOARDING-SCHOOL

The reception-room at Miss North's school was not elaborate. It had none of the attractiveness of Miss North's own living-room. It looked cold, business-like, and uninviting--at least so Blue Bonnet thought as she sat waiting to say her last good-bys to Uncle Cliff and Aunt Lucinda.

The parting with Grandmother had been something of a wrench. Blue Bonnet had managed to keep herself pretty well in hand, for Grandmother's sake; but to-day it was different. Everything was so strange--so forbidding.

Even the presence of Carita seemed of small comfort. Carita was lovely--but, after all, she couldn't fill Grandmother's place, nor Uncle Cliff's, nor even Aunt Lucinda's.

Uncle Cliff rose from the stiff-backed chair he had been occupying for the last half hour, and took Blue Bonnet's hand. Aunt Lucinda got up, too.

A frightened, half panicky look came into Blue Bonnet's face. The feeling that she was about to be left alone with strangers for the first time in her life came over her in a great wave. She reached up and taking hold of the lapels of her uncle's coat, held him fast.

”Must you go now--right this minute, Uncle Cliff?” she said, and he could feel her trembling.

Mr. Ashe looked at his watch.

”I am afraid so, Honey. Trains don't wait, you know. I must be off to-night, sure.”

Blue Bonnet turned to Aunt Lucinda and kissed her with warmth; then she walked between her uncle and aunt down the length of the long corridor to the front door. Carita also clung to Uncle Cliff. At the door they all paused.

”Now you have everything that you need, Blue Bonnet?” Aunt Lucinda inquired. ”You are quite sure? You can write immediately if anything has been forgotten, remember--”

”Yes, you are to have whatever you need, Honey,” Mr. Ashe interrupted.