His mother laughed through her tears. "I wonder if many mothers get such a compliment? Come, dear, the dew is beginning to fall--it's been such a heavenly day, I had forgotten it is early spring. Do you feel chilly?"
"Not I," laughed March, and proceeded to relieve his feelings after his favorite method--by turning a double-back somersault down the pasture slope.
As Mrs. Blossom leaned over to kiss tired, sleepy Budd that night, she thought complacently to herself:--
"Well, thank fortune, here 's one who is heart-free," and laughed softly to herself. Chi had not told her of Budd's proposal.
"Wilkins, tell Miss Hazel to come down into the library when she is dressed for dinner."
"Yes, Marse Clyde." Wilkins sprang upstairs two steps at a time, and, knocking at Hazel's door, delivered his message.
"Tell papa I 'm going to dress early, for I 've some things to attend to about the table, Wilkins."
"Fo' sho', Miss Hazel," said Wilkins, with a broad smile of delighted surprise.
"And tell Mrs. Scott I 'll choose the service, if she will take out the linen, and I have ordered the flowers. Papa said I might."
Wilkins skipped downstairs, delivered his message to the amazed housekeeper, and then flew into the kitchen to impart his news to the cook, his confidante and co-worker for years in the Clyde household.