As Blue Bonnet entered the house on her return from the Farm, she was conscious of some sort of scurrying just inside the sitting-room. She looked about wonderingly as she hung her hat and coat on the hall rack, but could see nothing unusual. The hat, hung insecurely, fell off its peg, and she turned from the sitting-room to pick it up. The next moment a pair of strong arms enveloped her and a deep pleasant voice was saying, "Merry Christmas, Blue Bonnet." "Uncle Cliff--Uncle Cliff!" was all she could say. "How ever did you get here? Why, it isn't Christmas yet!" "Shall I go back and wait, Honey? It is only another day." This time her arms were about him in a grip that left no doubt as to his welcome. "Well, I should say not! Only--you know you said--you thought it wouldn't be possible to get here to-day. If I had known I wouldn't have been away for anything. Come in to the fire this minute and tell me all about the ranch and Uncle Joe and Benita and Alec--and everything." By the fire they had their visit out, and then Uncle Cliff turned to Grandmother. "Do you think, Mrs. Clyde, that I might give Blue Bonnet the Christmas present I brought for her? On the ranch we scarcely ever waited beyond Christmas Eve for our gifts, did we, Honey?" Blue Bonnet smiled broadly. "Oh, do let him, Grandmother. There'll be plenty of things left for to-morrow." "Your Uncle is your legal guardian, dear. I think the privilege is his without asking." "What is the present? Where is it?" Blue Bonnet asked, her eyes shining. "I think Grandmother took it up in your room. I suspect you might find it there." Mrs. Clyde nodded. Blue Bonnet was out of the room and climbing the stairs in a twinkling. A second later Grandmother and Uncle Cliff heard a shout of joy, then laughter and animated conversation. "She found it without much difficulty," Mr. Ashe said, smiling. A moment later he was being smothered in caresses, and a voice was saying between tears and laughter: "Oh, Uncle Cliff, if you aren't the darlingest, best uncle anybody in this world ever had!" While a slim, shy young girl with soft brown eyes looked on with interest. There was an explanation on Uncle Cliff's part, and then Blue Bonnet took the girl's hand in her own affectionately. "Carita," she said, "have you met the family? You remember Grandmother, of course; and this is my aunt, Miss Clyde. Aunt Lucinda, this is Carita Judson. She's come to go with me to Miss North's, and I'm the happiest girl in Massachusetts!" CHAPTER V BOARDING-SCHOOL The reception-room at Miss North's school was not elaborate. It had none of the attractiveness of Miss North's own living-room. It looked cold, business-like, and uninviting--at least so Blue Bonnet thought as she sat waiting to say her last good-bys to Uncle Cliff and Aunt Lucinda.