The orchard was alluring. A delicious fragrance filled the air. The peach-trees were crowded with bloom, and the pear-trees threatened every moment to outrival their neighbors in gorgeous blossom. Out in the lawn crocuses lifted their heads; daffodils and hyacinths breathed forth their sweetness, and in the elms, birds twittered and sang of spring as they built their nests. Sarah had brought her sewing, which she pursued diligently. Kitty had a book to read to the girls if they ever stopped talking long enough to listen; and Amanda swayed back and forth in the hammock lazily. Knight Judson, strolling by, thought it a very attractive group, and hoped the girls would see fit to invite him in. Blue Bonnet, glancing down the road, spied him, and with a smile beckoned to him. "Sit down," she said, making room for him on the bench beside her. "This is a club meeting, but we're almost through. Love to have you stay to lunch, if you can stand so many girls all at once. I'm going to see if Katie will give it to us out here. We can use that rustic table over there." "Lovely!" the girls cried in a breath. "Make Knight carry out the chairs." "Knight's awfully obliging, isn't he?" Kitty Clark said from her cushion, as she watched his long limbs disappear in the doorway. "And so terribly good looking! How do you suppose he ever got such adorable manners on a Texas range? I noticed them the first time I ever met him. He's really polished, _I_ should say." "It's a good thing Blue Bonnet didn't hear you say that," Amanda said, "and--why, Kitty--don't you see Carita? You ought to know that Texas people are the most courteous in the world after last summer. I think you owe Carita an apology." Kitty hastened to make amends. "Don't bother," Carita said generously. "I know how you feel about it. One doesn't have much society where we live in Texas; but it doesn't matter--if one is _born_ a gentleman." Blue Bonnet came out of the house with a tea-cloth, followed by Knight and Delia with the chairs. "There's gingerbread!" Debby announced, sniffing. "My, doesn't it smell good!" "Yes, and little hot biscuits with orange marmalade," Blue Bonnet added. "Cold ham and hot chocolate, too. Katie's an old dear, isn't she?" It was a merry party, and Knight seemed quite at home, even if he was the only man in sight. He admitted that he had never been so popular in his life, and was enjoying the novelty. "Girls," Amanda said, when the meal was nearly finished. "I have something to propose. You needn't go away, Knight. Maybe you can help us. Blue Bonnet doesn't know anything about it--but--we're going to have a party, and it's to be for Mr. Ashe." "For Uncle Cliff!" Blue Bonnet said, amazed. "What kind of a party?"