gie, wake

o sleepy. Oh, it's you,

clock has just struck four. You

dear me, I a

and twisted abo

wasn't three th

strokes. I thought you

t talk so loud, or

g her to get up,

kind, and Basil w

care? I say, Mag, are you

the door and wait for me

king his heels so restlessly that only the soundes

sunlight streaming in through the closed window-curtains, but August though it was, this early hour of the morning was chilly, and Marjorie shivered as she tumbled not too tidily into her clothes. Eric w

l allowance. She dipped her face and neck, however, in cold water, which effectually woke her up, and when she had brushed out her thick hair, and knelt

Isn't the morning scrumptious? Not a bit of a c

o'clock in the morning!

ou were an awful time getting into your clothes, Mag. And why shoul

from her own too recent exp

wouldn't like it a bit, and why should w

ded, whatever we did. Do come along, Maggie; I have it all planned so jolly. Father is to come with us, and unmoor the boa

arly by her chosen and special chum, Eric. Accordingly, after a little f

thought of stirring. Eric pushed back the oak doors, which

with an air of great triumph. "This is our day, and you can't k

t was delicious to be up in the early morning. She wa

used at length outside their father's door. Here Marjorie once again grew a little p

lt a little subdued; the chamber seemed so vast, and the great four-poster, away by itself in an alcove, had a remote and unapproachable aspect. It was one thin

away," whisp

birthday! It's our day! Come along-he c

art, Marjorie followed her brother across the big

d her waist. The face was a little like Ermengarde's, but the eyes which looked down now at the two children had Marjorie's expression in them. There were other p

s almost sprang to her eyes. It seemed cruel t

about him, and had stern ideas as to what he termed his rights. Father's birthday was the childre

ped confidently up to the big bed, raised himself on tiptoe, so as to secure a bet

rky, and quite up to any holiday pranks at four o'clock on a summer's morning; but the older and less wise people who sometimes do not cl

him which must be replied to-he had even dipped into a book in which he was specially interested. Then his

ot laid his tired head on his pillow un

d not Eric's buzzing whispers nor Marjorie's cautious rep

stirred. Oh, you needn't go on with your 'hush-hush!' Mag-he's as sound as a button.

ut the eyes remained closed, t

him a good bit, and perhaps he'd begin to yawn. Oh, jolly, it's a spring mattress; we can

vily that she rolled on to Mr. Wilton's leg. He started, groaned, said "Down, Gyp!" in a very angry voice, and once

will go at this rate; it will soon be five o

or gov," said Marjorie.

hear anything. He's stone

esn't like, even if he is asleep,"

much nicer word than father, and all our fellows say it. You think it isn't respectful because you'r

said Marjorie, turning her head on one si

and we'll never get our water-lilies. Father, wake up! Father, it's your birthday! Don't you hear us? Here, Mag, let's

e fun entered into their souls, an

and to have seized him by the leg. Finally the dream dissolved itself into a medley of laughter and childish cries

he house on fi

orie. She flung herself upon him, and

u, no doubt, but why this sudden rush

n a voice of awful emphasis.

," said Marjorie, begin

"it's your birthday, fa

t he must allow himself to recover from the shock of the announcement. The

ate," answered both children, sh

hat do you wa

and come with us to

O

a deligh

sure the morn

ke anything. Run to the window, Mag, and pull t

thanks

n't you ge

ve minutes. And listen, even though it is my birthday, it isn't necessa

retorted Marjorie. "Dear father,

your devoted and humble serv

?" said Marjorie, as th

oing to eat him. I tell you what it is, pater ought to be very much obliged to us