"I am sure a great many of you already know our young friend. You have seen her grow from childhood to young womanhood--watched her trudging in to school in all weathers, determined to get an education at any cost--noted her record at school, always at the top or near the top. Perhaps others in Ryeville besides the old men have been cheered by her happy face and ready wit and sympathy." "Hear! Hear!" "And now we old men wish to present formally to society Miss Judith Buck. If you have any criticism to make of our method, please blame us and not our guest of honor. This is a surprise party for her." "Well, I call that right down pretty," said Big Josh to his Cousin Bob. "I have been wanting all evening to get in a word with some of the crowd concerning this young lady, but it looks like it's hard to get away from the women folk long enough to talk sense." "I believe I know what you mean," said Mr. Bucknor uneasily. "It won't do, Josh, it won't do." "The dickens it won't do, if we decide to claim her!" "But the ladies, Josh, the ladies! I fancy Cousin Ann has told you what she told me. The tale got my madam and the girls up in arms and I can't cope with the whole biling of them. I'd say no more about it if I were you. Of course we must go up and shake hands with the girl, and do the polite, but the least said the soonest mended--about her being related to us. You know well enough if the women folk are opposed it would be harder on the girl than just letting the matter drop right where it is." "Well, I reckon I can control the ladies in my family," blustered Big Josh. "Ahem!" said Mr. Bob Bucknor, with a significant glance at his cousin, "I must confess that I can't always do so. I find that entertaining Cousin Ann Peyton, for months at a time, is about all I can do in the way of coercion where the ladies of my family are concerned." "I'm going to relieve you of that burden, Bob," declared Big Josh. "I fully realize you have had more than your share lately, but the truth of the matter is my lane is in mighty bad shape here lately. I have just been talking to Cousin Ann about coming to us for a spell. In fact, I've been telling her I'd come and fetch her before so very long." Judith stood demurely between Judge Middleton and Major Fitch and made her bow to Ryeville society. They had asked Mrs. Buck to stand by her daughter, but that lady begged to be excused. "I'm just a private person," she said, "and it would flustrate me so I'd be sure to have one of my attacks." Everybody went up and shook hands with the guest of honor--even Mildred Bucknor, although she did not enjoy it at all. "It is the silliest thing I ever saw in my life," she declared. "As though that Judith Buck wasn't forward enough as it is, without those ridiculous old men forcing her on people this way. If we had known the party was given to her, we never should have come, but now that we are here we naturally must behave as gentle folk and be decent."