"Who is awake so early, I wonder?" laughed nurse, for it was in vain to try any longer to close her ears to the whispering buzz. "Many happy returns of the day, my dear Miss Clarice."
"Oh, nurse!" pleaded Milly. "Please dress me very early to-day, because I want to go to my garden before breakfast. You know what for, nursey dear."
"Oh yes, I know," answered nurse; "but you must have a little patience. There! You have wakened baby with your chatter. I thought you would. Now I wonder if you two little girls can keep him quiet, and amuse him, till I am ready."
"Oh yes! Oh yes!" chimed in both voices. "Come here, you darling baby-brother!"
Baby allowed himself to be transferred from the cradle to his sister's bed with the greatest equanimity, only opening his large solemn eyes a little wide as they laughed and played with him.
"Baby George has only had one birthday since he was born," cried Clarice, kissing him. "I have had eight; that is seven more than he. I don't think he cared much about his presents, not even the pretty coral and bells that grandmamma gave him. Did you, darling?" she added, proud of the responsibility of holding him in her arms. "One, two, three, four, five kisses more for the sweetest baby that ever lived."
A merry shout from the adjoining room told the sisters that Alfred and Arthur were also awake.
"Many happy returns of the day!" they cried, peeping in at the door. "Make haste, Milly; we want you in the garden."
Just then mamma appeared to give the birthday kiss and carry off baby. When the chatter ceased, the children were got ready for breakfast; and Carolus went on with his song through everything, trilling out his full clear notes in the summer sunshine, which now flooded the room.
Pale blush roses, with the dew still upon them, nodded in at the window, and ivy-twigs bent and trembled as the free birds alighted on them every moment, charmed and attracted by the clear song of the captive canary.