The guests, however, all arrived before Grandma Miller; and when Roxy led her up the path followed by Mrs. Delfield and Polly, and the smiling group greeted her with a chorus of “Happy birthday,” she was as much surprised as Roxy had expected her to be, and seated herself on the cushion-like moss declaring that it was well worth while to be sixty years old to have so glorious a birthday.
The tent was behind the tree and had not been noticed by anyone but Roland, and when Roxy and Polly suddenly disappeared Roland was the only one who suspected that a real surprise was in store for the members of the birthday party.
It was Polly who announced the “circus.” Making a pretty curtsy to Mrs. Miller and then to the guests, she said:
“In honor of Mrs. Miller’s birthday I have the pleasure of announcing that Signor Delroxana has brought his menagerie of trained beasts and birds. If you will kindly follow me,” and taking Grandma Miller by the hand Polly led the way to the open tent where a strange little figure in a tall white hat, a blue coat that trailed on the ground, and whose face was nearly covered with a beard of curly brown yarn, stood ready to introduce the animals and tell of their capture in far-off lands.
Roxy did not laugh once, as in a gruff voice she named each group of animals and birds; but her listeners found it difficult to keep quiet, and Roland whispered to his mother that it was the funniest thing he had ever seen, and the minister said it was very instructive as well as amusing, while Grandma Miller laughed until she had to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Dulcie, standing near the little Hinham girls, was the only sober person in the audience.
“Dat ruffle-muslin; I reckons it look like a rag ’fore dis! My lan’! Wot good fer Missy Roxy to kiver up her fine clo’es dis way,” she muttered disapprovingly.
After Roxy had finished and taken off the coat, hat and whiskers, her grandmother said that her little granddaughter must sit beside her on the fine seat of moss; and Dulcie brought the huge birthday cake which Grandma cut, and Roxy was delighted to carry the plates to the smiling guests who were gathered in the shade of the big sycamore. There were pitchers filled with raspberry shrub, and various sorts of tempting cakes handed about by a smiling negro girl who had come to help Dulcie; and when Roxy saw the abundance of plum tarts, exactly like the ones she had eaten on the day she had quarrelled with Polly, she smiled happily, and felt that nothing was lacking.
It was sunset before the guests started for home, and as Roxy, hand in hand with Grandma Miller, walked up the slope toward home she thought it had been the happiest day she remembered.
“Everybody had a good time, didn’t they, Grandma?” she asked eagerly, as they sat down on the porch.