“Certainly she will not refuse to do so simple a neighborly act for Miss Brook. The dining there is another matter.”
“All right; if she’ll only go the first time, in the morning, that is all I ask. The rest will follow; it is positively certain. Will you ask her?”
“Yes. But are you going to the bees before supper?”
“I must. This is the time of greatest need for watching. Yet I’m tired! Hard work isn’t all fun, is it, Motherkin? and I’ve worked awfully hard to-day!”
“More busily than usual?”
“It seems so. Good Mr. Brook does get so interested in his catalogue, and he is apparently so delighted with my superior merits as a secretary, that he forgets himself and would keep me writing right along till midnight, I believe, if it weren’t for dear Miss Joanna or interfering Mr. Dolloway. By the way, Mother, something is wrong with that man. He’s offended with the Beckwiths, root and branch. I fancied it was only his normal condition to be so ‘all-fired’ cross, but Mr. Brook informed me that he was suffering from a worse attack than common. He also hinted that we were responsible for it, and mentioned unappreciated kindness.”
“Why, Beatrice! I thought we had tried to express our gratitude continually. He is, in truth, very kind, though sometimes a bit officious, it seems to me. I do not suffer from this officiousness personally, but it annoys the others, especially Roland. The lad is trying so hard and is growing so manly and reliable that I can’t bear to have him fretted. However, I will try to be even more particular in future to express our obligation. If you are going among the hives now, call Robert to go with you. He is out of doors somewhere.”
Robert called himself, though, for he appeared at the open doorway with a very red face and an excited manner. “At it again, Bon! Hurry up an’ get your bee clothes on! I’ve got mine here! I do hope they ain’t a goin’ to swarm on top of no more trees, anyhow!”
“I thought you liked the danger of climbing to the top, Lieutenant!” returned Bonny, hastily donning her veil and gloves, and taking her long-handled net in her hand.
Robert also put on his protectors, in his haste getting the hat wrong side to the fore, and trying to wear the thumb of his glove on the back of his hand; but such trifling irregularities as these were nothing to him, and he followed his sister hastily.