Part 13
Then Pat was introduced; Renee had to tell, too, of finding the daffodils. Elsbeth, her face twisted into a comical expression of bewilderment, listened in the doorway, and from all parts of the house there was a rumble of furniture and the tread of feet.
"In a very little time this place will all be changed," Mrs. Forrester said, patting Renee's hand. "We will have flowers growing all around us--and we will be very happy, we three!"
It was a very busy day! Emile must be admitted to the secrets of the Eyrie; he was shown the account book of LaDue and Everett and some of Renee's work. Then he had to hear the story of Paddy and the lost formulas, of Sheila and Peggy and Garrett and Hill-top, of Troop Six and the scout work, and of Keineth and the coming party! Surely never in the world did a tongue wag faster that Pat's nor did eyes shine more brightly than Renee's as Emile was made acquainted with all that had brought so much happiness into her life during the past winter.
Downstairs Aunt Pen, Capt. Allan and Daddy were talking, too. Pat with her remarkable instinct for sensing "when plans were in the making" exclaimed, as she entered the room:
"Daddy Everett, you look _just_ as though you had a secret!"
Her Daddy assumed a very important air.
"I have! I have a surprise! You've all had one but me! And I am sure you will think that _mine_ is best of all! And I thought of it all myself!"
"Oh, what _is_ it? If much more happens I'll be walking on my _head_! What _can_ it be!" Pat looked from one to another. "Aunt Pen, you're giggling so silly I believe it's something about your wedding! It is! _It is_! May Ren and I be bridesmaids, Aunt Pen, and wear gauzy dresses and big hats and carry bouquets?"
"You're warm, Pat!" teased her father.
"_Please_, Aunt Pen!" implored Pat in an agony of curiosity.
"Mother has suggested in a note to me that your Aunt Pen and I bring you and Renee to Atlantic City and meet them there----"
"But _I'm_ determined to make Aunt Pen marry me right away, you see; I can't even wait for gauzy hats and big dresses--we've wasted so much happiness, already!" cut in Capt. Allan.
"So _I_ said let's _all_ go and meet Mother, and we can have the wedding down there where the breaking waves dash high----"
"Oh, _Daddy, Daddy_, that's the _bestest, grandest_ surprise of all! A _wedding_ in Atlantic City! Only the waves can't dash very high--'cause there's no stern and rock-bound coast--only sand! But we'll trim the room with flowers----"
"And you and Renee _shall_ be my bridesmaids, no matter what dresses you wear!"
"And Emile shall be my best man!"
"And, oh, _won't_ mother and Celia be surprised? You see _I_ had guessed all about Capt. Allan because Aunt Pen acted so funny when we spoke of him, but Mother doesn't know a single thing! Was there ever such a nice, jolly wedding planned before?"
Renee's face was a little clouded. It would be wonderful to go to the sea, but ought she and Emile to leave the little grandmother?
"Bless you, she shall come, too! Ocean air will finish up the good work that her happiness has started! I can't have my plan spoiled--not even if we have to charter a whole train!"
Pat wanted to begin packing immediately.
"When will we go, Daddy?" she cried.
"Day after to-morrow," he answered with the promptness of decision that was characteristic.
"I'm glad that you give me _that_ much time! I'll have to get 'something old and something new, something borrowed and something blue,'" laughed the bride-to-be.
"And we can go to Keineth's party and tell them all about it!" Pat was silent for a moment. Then going to her Daddy she laid her cheek coaxingly against his arm.
"Daddy, as long as there are so many going--and weddings are jollier when there are a lot of people--can't we take Sheila, too? She's never been any further from the city than Hill-top and she's always so contented and happy and's never teasing for things the way I am! Just _think_ how she'd look when she saw the ocean! I have so much more fun than she does, Daddy, I'd just as soon stay home if she could go in my place!"
And Pat, thinking how Sheila's face _would_ look when she first beheld the great sweep of deep, blue sea, was very much in earnest.
Mr. Everett patted the pleading face. He did not smile for he had been deeply touched by Pat's generosity.
"Yes, daughter, Sheila shall go, too."
"Oh, Daddy, you _are_ the best daddy in the world! Let's run straight over and tell her, Ren! _Think_ how happy she'll be!"
From the library window Aunt Pen and Mr. Everett watched the two girls, arms interlocked, swing down the walk that led from the Everett house to the street. There was pride in Aunt Pen's face as she watched. Her girls had learned generosity and unselfishness as well as Latin and Algebra! And they had found, too, the joy of fellowship! They were hurrying now to share their happiness!
Mr. Everett was thinking the same thoughts as his sister, but looking slyly at her from the corner of his eye, he repeated teasingly:
"Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Silver bells and cockle shells----"
Aunt Pen laughingly interrupted: "And larkspur all in a row! But won't this world's garden be richer and more beautiful for healthy, happy girls like ours, Daddy Everett?"
* * * * * * * *
*THE SUNNY BOY SERIES*
*By RAMY ALLISON WHITE*
Children! Meet Sunny Boy, a little fellow with big eyes and an inquiring disposition who finds the world at large a wonderful place to live in. There is always something doing when Sunny Boy is around.
In the first book of the series he visits his grandfather in the country and learns of many marvelous things on a farm, and in the other books listed below he has many exciting adventures which every child will enjoy reading about.
SUNNY BOY IN THE COUNTRY SUNNY BOY AT THE SEASHORE SUNNY BOY IN THE BIG CITY SUNNY BOY IN SCHOOL AND OUT SUNNY BOY AND HIS SCHOOLMATES SONNY BOY AND HIS GAMES SUNNY BOY IN THE FAR WEST SUNNY BOY ON THE OCEAN SUNNY BOY WITH THE CIRCUS SUNNY BOY AND HIS BIG DOG SUNNY BOY IN THE SNOW SUNNY BOY AT WILLOW FARM SUNNY BOY AND HIS CAVE SUNNY BOY AT RAINBOW LAKE
*GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK*