The second day of his visit Courtland had made an errand with Bonnie to
town to send off several telegrams. As a result a lot of things arrived
for him the day before Christmas, marked "Rush!" They were smuggled
into the parlor, behind the Christmas tree, with great secrecy after
dark by Bonnie and Courtland; and covered with the buffalo robes from
the car till morning. There was a big leather chair with air-cushions
for Father Marshall; its mate in lady's size for Mother; a set of
encyclopedias that he had heard Father say he wished he had; a lot of
silver forks and spoons for Mother, who had apologized for the silver
being rubbed off of some of hers. There were two sets of books in
wonderful leather bindings that he had heard Bonnie say she longed to
read, and there was the tiniest little gold watch, about which he had
been in terrible doubt ever since he had sent for it. Suppose Bonnie
should think it wrong to accept it when she had known him so short a
time! How was he going to make her see that it was all right? He
couldn't tell her she was a sort of a sister of his, for he didn't want
her for a sister. He puzzled over that question whenever he had time,
which wasn't often, because he was so busy and so happy every minute.
Then there were great five-pound boxes of chocolates, glaced nuts and
bonbons, and a crate of foreign fruits, with nuts, raisins, figs, and
dates. There was a long, deep box from the nearest city filled with the
most wonderful hothouse blossoms: roses, lilies, sweet peas, violets,
gardenias, and even orchids.
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