in counting
over the many hours before the happy day would come. But on Jasper's
suggesting that they should all do something to get ready for the
visitors, and have a general trimming up with vines and flowers
beside--the time passed away much more rapidly than was feared.

Polly chose a new and more difficult piece of music to learn to surprise
mamsie. Phronsie had aspired to an elaborate pin-cushion, that was
nearly done, made of bits of worsted and canvas, over whose surface
she had wandered according to her own sweet will, in a way charming to
behold.

"I don't know what to do," said Van in despair, "cause I don't know what
she'd like."

"Can't you draw her a little picture?" asked Polly. "She'd like that."

"Does she like pictures?" asked Van with the greatest interest.

"Yes indeed!" said Polly, "I guess you'd think so if you could see her!"

"I know what I shall do," with a dignified air said Percy, who couldn't
draw, and therefore looked down on all Van's attempts with the greatest
scorn. "And it won't be any old pictures either," he added.

"What is it, old fellow?" asked Jasper, "tell on, now, your grand plan."

"No, I'm not going to tell," said Percy, with the greatest secrecy,
"until the very day."

"What will you do, sir?" asked Jasper, pulling one of Dick's ears, who
stood waiting to speak, as if his mind was made up, and wouldn't be
changed for anyone!

"I shall give Ben one of my kitties--the littlest and the best!" he
said, with heroic self-sacrifice.

A perfect shout greeted this announcement.

"Fancy Ben going round with one of those awful little things," whispered
Jappy to Polly, who shook at the very thought.

"Don't laugh! oh, it's dreadful to laugh at him, Jappy," she said, when
she could get voice enough.

"No, I sha'n't tell," said Percy, when the fun had subsided; who,
finding that no one teased him to divulge his wonderful plan, kept
trying to harrow up their feelings by parading it.

"You needn't then," screamed Van, who was nearly dying to know. "I don't
believe it's so very dreadful much, anyway."

"What's yours, Jappy?" asked Polly, "I know yours will be just
splendid."

"Oh, no, it isn't," said Jasper, smiling brightly, "but as I didn't know
what better I could do, I'm going to get a little stand, and then beg
some flowers of Turner to fill it, and--"

"Why, that's mine!" screamed Percy, in the greatest disappointment.
"That's just what I was going to do!"

"Hoh