"The rogue! he is just too spoiled for anything," she laughed. "He did that, thinking that I would run after him. Well, I won't. A little judicious snubbing will do him good."
"Has Joel come back from town, Aunt Fanny?" she asked as she entered the kitchen.
"Yes'm; he done kum back, Joel is. He brung a lettah from yer pa, I 'specs. Hit ain't from no lady nohow, an' no udder gem'mens gwine ter write dat I knows anything erbout."
"Certainly it is from father," said Bee, breaking the seal eagerly. "Although I might have a half dozen gem'mens writing to me for all you know," she added, teasingly.
"No, yer ain't, honey. Dey may kum in time, but yer too 'voted ter yer pa right now for hit."
And so she talked while Beatrice perused her letter. It was short, and ran as follows:
"My dear Daughter:
"I am writing in haste to inform you that I shall be home Saturday morning, and shall bring with me four of the Faculty of the University. They are enthusiastic Lepidopterists, and I am sure that you will enjoy meeting with them. Now, my child, they will remain for dinner, and while you manage very nicely indeed with Aunt Fanny, I fear that this may tax your ability too far. Could you not get some capable person to assist you for the day?
"I hope that you have not been very lonesome, and assuring you that it will afford me the greatest pleasure to be with you again, I am as ever,
"Your affectionate father,
"William Raymond."
Bee sat still for a long time gazing at the letter. Something about the tone of it chilled her heart, and she could not but contrast it with that other letter which also told of his homecoming. How full of love, and tenderness, and longing, that had been; while this—Oh! would he never, never care for her? Her eyes filled with a quick rush of tears.
"Am hit bad news, honey?" queried Aunt Fanny anxiously.
"No; no, indeed." Bee dashed away her tears, and tried to speak cheerfully. "Father is coming home Saturday, and he will bring company for dinner. There will be four scientific men with him, and he fears that we shall not be able to manage by ourselves. What do you think?"