Part 26 (2/2)
”That's queer. Where's his card?”
”He didn't send one, Miss Ashe.”
Blue Bonnet went to her room, took a sweeping glance in the mirror, gave her hair an extra brus.h.i.+ng, got out a clean handkerchief and went down-stairs quickly.
A tall young man came forward eagerly as she entered the reception-room.
For a moment she stared in dumb amazement, then she gave a cry of delight:
”Alec! Oh, how glad I am to see you! How ever in the world did you happen to come? How's Uncle Cliff, and Uncle Joe, and everybody on the ranch? Have you been to Woodford or are you just going?”
”One question at a time--please. Let's see, the first--Oh, yes; I happened to come because I got my appointment to West Point--”
”You did? How perfectly splendid! When?”
”A couple of weeks ago. I came on immediately to prepare. Mr. Ashe is well, so is Uncle Joe. They sent you all sorts of messages. I have been in Woodford for several days. I came through here the first of the week, but I wasn't in shape to call--exactly--not on a young lady in a fas.h.i.+onable boarding-school. I'm afraid I wouldn't have been admitted. I had to have some clothes--”
”How awfully well you're looking,” Blue Bonnet interrupted.
”Oh, I'm fine--can hold my own now, I think; thanks to Texas. That's a great country you've got down there.”
Blue Bonnet beamed with pleasure.
”Isn't it, though! Is Benita well?”
”Fine.”
”How's Uncle Joe's rheumatism?”
”Better, I guess. Haven't heard him complain.”
”Then it _is_ better,” Blue Bonnet said. ”And old Gertrudis--and Juanita? How are they?”
”Fine--all of them.”
”Oh, how I should love to see them! When is Uncle Cliff coming to see me?”
”Along about Easter vacation, I think.” Blue Bonnet fairly jumped with joy.
”He is? Really--aren't you joking, Alec? He hasn't said anything about it to me.”
”Maybe I've let the cat out, then. Well--it's true just the same. That's the way he talks now. Hadn't we better sit down?”
”Oh, I'm awfully rude. Sit here.”
She drew forth as comfortable a chair as the room afforded.
”You took me so by surprise that I forgot my manners.”
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