"Girls," Amanda said, when the meal was nearly finished. "I have something to propose. You needn't go away, Knight. Maybe you can help us. Blue Bonnet doesn't know anything about it—but—we're going to have a 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 it to-morrow night, if we can get ready. It's to be a surprise party—that is, Mr. Ashe isn't to know a thing about it. He's been so perfectly angelic to all of us that we thought it would be nice to show him our appreciation if we could. Do you think he'd like it, Blue Bonnet? That is, 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 Grandmother wouldn'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 the welcome news that Aunt Lucinda and Grandmother thought it was the proper place 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. It won't be hard, dividing it between us."
"May I turn the ice-cream freezer?" Knight inquired. "I'm quite expert at it."
"You certainly may," Kitty replied. "I engage you right now, and you may report at my house any time before noon to-morrow."