"We'll surely come," promised the girls.
Of course they kept their promise. The four Cottagers arrived very soon after breakfast, were let in most sedately by Mr. Black's man, who smiled when the unceremonious visitors rushed pell-mell past him to fall upon Mrs. Crane, who was watering plants in the breakfast room.
"Tell us the secret!" shouted Mabel. "Oh—I mean good-morning!"
"Good-morning," smiled Mrs. Crane, setting the watering pot in a safe place. "The secret isn't a very big one. It's only that to-day is my birthday and I thought I'd like to have a party. You're it. The cook is making me a birthday cake, but she doesn't know that it is a birthday cake."
"Goody!" cried Mabel.
"Doesn't Mr. Black know it's your birthday?" queried Jean.
"I don't think so. You see, it's a long time since Peter and I spent birthdays under the same roof, and men don't remember such things very well. We'll surprise him with the cake to-night. Now let's go to the nursery."
Rosa Marie's dull countenance brightened at sight of her four friends. She gave four solemn little bobs with her head.
"Mercy!" cried Marjory, "she's learning manners."
"And see," said Bettie, "she's stringing beads."