CHAPTER XII
HOW THE GOVERNOR ARRIVED
“Oh; is it you?” asked Judith busily. “Come and help us, dear, for we must have the place in apple-pie order by four o’clock, and there’s a lot to be done.”
“Dear me; what’s the excitement about?” asked Phoebe.
“I’ve just had a telegram from Cousin John, the Governor, and he’ll be here at four o’clock,” answered Judith.
“Really?”
“Honest for true, Phoebe. Isn’t it fine?”
Phoebe sat down with a bewildered expression. All the Darings well knew of Judith’s famous cousin, the governor of the state, whom they always called the “Great Man” in discussing him; but until now none of them had ever seen him. He was not their cousin, although he bore that relation to Cousin Judith Eliot, whose mother had been the sister of his mother. There was no doubt of his being a very great man, for he had not only been twice elected governor of the state but people declared he might some day become president of the United States, so able and clean had been his administration of affairs. The very idea of their entertaining so celebrated a personage made Phoebe gasp. She looked at Cousin Judith with big eyes, trying to conceive the situation.
“I’ve often invited him to come and see us,” continued Judith, her voice full of glad anticipation as she worked, “but he is such a busy man he could never find time. At last, however, he has remembered me, and his telegram says he has been North on state affairs and finds he can spare me a few hours to-day on his return; so he’ll be here at four o’clock, stay all night and take the morning train on to the capitol.”
“All night!” cried Phoebe.
“Yes; I’m so pleased, Phoebe. You’re sure to like Cousin John and I know the other children will adore him. It’s his custom to dine at night, you know; so we’ll just have a lunch this noon and our dinner at suppertime, as they do up North. The youngsters won’t mind, for once, although it may give them indigestion.”