“Nothing of the kind. If I thought so, I would not hesitate to present myself before the ladies in this dress.”
“Come along, anyhow. We'll make all the allowance you want. But you see, this is my daughter Fanny's birthday and her wedding day. She was married to Romeo Hancock this morning. So we wanted a room as big as all out doors to celebrate the occasion. We thought the best thing would be to have a picnic under those beautiful trees. Come, please. If you ain't with us, you are against us.”
“I'll go home and put on other dress and come back immediately,” said Clarence.
Pittikin laughed. “Just what Fanny said. I tell you she is an awfully smart girl. She said, ‘He'll tell you he is going home to change his clothes, but don't you let him, because he'll only give us the slip.’ So you see, I can't let you go. Besides, they are setting the table,—I mean to say, spreading the eatables,—so you have no time to go home now.”
“But, look here, Mr. Pittikin, what is to become of my mission? I came to see you and Mr. Hughes on business, and not on a picnic.”
“Can't the business wait till to-morrow?”
“Not very well, as I promised Mr. Mechlin.”
“Oh! I know; Hughes told me,” interrupted Pittikin. “The Don wants to make speeches to the settlers to fool us into a—into—some terms of his, so that we'll kick ourselves out of our farms.”
“Nothing of the kind. He is not going to make any foolish propositions, but even if he were, you can lose nothing by being polite and listening to him.”
“I don't know but what you are right. I like always to be polite; and as for Hughes, he is the politest man going, and no mistake. He never speaks loud, and he always listens to you. I think it will be the best thing, perhaps, to see Hughes, now. Then there is neighbor Hancock, and neighbor Miller and Jackson, and the boys. Come along, we'll collar them in a bunch.”