CHAPTER XIX
PAULY’S BIRTHDAY
A small army of workmen had appeared at Lislehurst, and the village folk were beginning to realise the incredible fact that their marquess did at length intend to do his duty by them, when Pauly’s fifth birthday came round.
“May I have him to tea with me?” Sydney asked, and on receiving permission began to make extensive preparations in the way of good cheer.
Mrs. Fewkes was easily induced to devote her energies to the making of a truly stupendous cake, conical in shape and covered with white sugar, adorned with amazing flowers and fruits of all colours. And there were birds, butterflies, and beetles made of chocolate upon it, and five pink candles fixed around its topmost peak, to signify the five years which the small birthday king would have reached.
Not content with this marvel of confectionery, Mrs. Fewkes further added dishes of cream, buns, and other delicacies for which she was deservedly famous, so altogether Pauly’s birthday tea bid fair to be a very great success.
It was spread in the school-room, and on his plate was seated a large furry toy dog, with red tongue hanging out in a dégagé manner, and a spring which, when pressed, caused him to jump uncertainly about, and also bark in a thin and spasmodic way. This was Sydney’s present to the hero of the day. Miss Osric had contributed a box of bricks, which stood upon his chair.
All was in readiness at four o’clock, when Pauly arrived in charge of his nurse, looking rather extra fat and red about the cheeks, Sydney thought.
He was immensely excited over something and would not wait, as she suggested, to take off his little overcoat upstairs, but insisted on removing it the very moment he had set two rather muddy little feet inside the hall.