4. Kit’s Plan
It appeared that Uncle Bart lived strictly up to tradition, for it had been over fifteen years since any word had been received from him. The letter which broke the long silence was read aloud several times that day, the girls and Tommy especially searching between its lines for any hidden sentiment or hint of family affection.
“I don’t see why he tries to be generous when he doesn’t know how,” Doris said musingly. “I wonder if he’s got bushy gray hair.”
“Wait a minute while I read this thing over carefully again,” Kit said. “I think while we’re alone we ought to discuss it freely. Mother just took it as if it were of no consequence. It seems to me, since it concerns us vitally, that we ought to have some selection in the matter ourselves.”
“But Kit, you didn’t read carefully,” Jean interrupted with a little laugh. “See here,” she followed the writing with her fingertip. “He says, ‘Send me the boy.’ That means Tommy.”
“Yes, I know it does, but Mom said she didn’t want Tommy to go now. She said he’s too young to go off alone.”
“Well then, that scotches the deal as far as the rest of us are concerned.”
“I don’t see why I can’t go,” said Kit rather sadly. “I should have been a boy anyway, I’m more like Dad than any of you.”
“No matter what you say,” Jean replied, “I don’t think you’re especially like Dad at all. He hasn’t a quick temper and he’s not the least bit domineering.”