"Here, Honey. Why, what's the matter? You look as if something dreadful were about to happen."
"What's your bag doing in the hall, Uncle Cliff?"
"Business, Honey, business. I have to run up to Boston for a day or two."
"To-day? Oh, Uncle Cliff, not to-day! You can't—possibly. We need you here. We've just got to have you. You said you would stay with me two whole weeks. How can you leave me a single minute when we've been separated all these months?"
"But I'll be back to-morrow, Honey."
"Yes—but to-morrow isn't to-day! I specially need you to-day."
"Very well then, I'll go to-night. What did you want to do to-day?"
"Ever so many things. There's the visit to Gabriel; and the ride out to the farm; and—oh, heaps of things. And to-night—if you'll just stay over to-night, Uncle Cliff, I'll try to spare you to-morrow. Really, I will. Please."
Her arms were about his neck; her head against his cheek.
"I'm sorry, Blue Bonnet, but I must go this time. I'll be back in a day or two. Why, here, here, Honey! What's this?"