“Jes’ fetch two ob de biggest silver spoons, Miss Roxy. I don’ mak’ no cake wid common spoon,” she said, beginning to break the eggs, while the girls hastened to bring the spoons.
The big kitchen was a pleasant place that morning, and while Roxy and Polly beat the eggs and creamed the butter for the honey-cake Dulcie prepared vegetables and a chicken pie for the midday meal, and at last declared herself ready to “mix up de cake.”
“I can hardly wait to taste it,” Roxy said, as she watched Dulcie set the cake in the oven.
Before it was taken out Mrs. Miller and Roxy’s mother called the girls to come and help them roll up the quilt on its frames and set it in the hall.
“By the time you are ready for dinner the cake will be baked,” said Grandma, as the two girls ran upstairs to brush their hair and wash their hands.
“We will work on the ‘Circus’ after dinner,” said Polly. “It is only two weeks before your Grandma’s birthday, and there is a lot to do before the ‘Circus’ will be finished.”
“Polly! I know who I’ll ask to come to my ‘surprise’ for Grandma. I’ll ask the little Hinham girls and their brother!” said Roxy eagerly, “Don’t you think their names are lovely?”
“Yes,” responded Polly, wondering a little how it was that Roxy knew the names of the little Hinham girls. “Have they been over to see you?” she asked.
Roxy shook her head. She wanted to tell Polly all about her visit, but felt a little ashamed because she had started off so angry at Polly. Dulcie’s voice calling them to dinner sent them hurrying downstairs, and Polly asked no more questions.
After dinner the rain gradually ceased, and the two girls, sitting by Roxy’s table near the front window, were so busy with scissors and water-color paints, and with their plan for a birthday surprise party for Grandma Miller that they did not think about the weather until Polly suddenly jumped up and said: