t somehow or other his secret should fly out of
him in spite of all his efforts to keep it in. At night the children
made nurse hurry them to bed, so that when mother came to tuck them up,
as she generally did, she found the pair fast asleep, and nothing left
to kiss but two curly heads buried in the pillows.

"Bless their hearts," said nurse to Mrs. Norton, "they can think of
nothing but to-morrow. They'll be sadly disappointed if it rains."

But the stars came out, and the new moon shone softly all night on the
great fir trees and the rosebuds and the little dancing beck in the
Ravensnest garden; and when Milly awoke next morning the sun was
shining, and Brownholme was towering up clear and high into the breezy
blue sky, and the trees were throwing cool shadows on the dewy lawn
around the house.

"Oh dear!" said Milly, jumping up, her face flushing with joy "it's my
birthday, and it's fine. Nana, bring me my things, please.--But where's
Olly?"

Where indeed was Olly? There was his little bed, but there was a
nightdress rolled up in it, and not a wisp of his brown curls was to be
seen anywhere.

"Why, Miss Milly, are you woke up at last? I hardly thought you'd have
slept so late this morning. Many happy returns of the day to you," said
nurse, giving her a hearty hug.

"Thank you, _dear_ nurse. Oh, it is so nice having birthdays. But where
can Olly be?"

"Don't you trouble your head about him," said nurse mysteriously, and
not another word could Milly get out of her. She had just slipped on her
white cotton frock when mother opened the door.

"Well, birthday-girl! The top of the morning to you, and many, many
happy returns of the day."

Whereupon Milly and mother went through a great deal of kissing which
need not be described, and then mother helped her brush her hair, and
put on her ribbon and tie her sash, so that in another minute or two she
was quite ready to go down.

"Now, Milly, wait one minute till you hear the bell ring, and then you
may come down as fast as you like."

So Milly waited, her little feet dancing with impatience, till the bell
began to ring as if it had gone quite mad.

"Oh, that's Olly ringing," cried Milly, rushing off. And sure enough
when she got to the hall there was Olly ringing as if he meant to bring
the house down. He dropped the bell when he saw Milly, and dragged her
breathlessly into the dining-room.

And what did Milly see there I wonder? Why, a heap of red and white