"May Florrie and I go into the town with Sarah this afternoon to buy our presents? We must not let Gertie know why we have gone; but I daresay she will guess."
"I daresay she will," said Miss Jameson, smiling; "yes, I think Sarah will be able to take you this afternoon."
"Oh, thank you," cried Katie. "Now which do you think Gertie would like best—a book or a skipping-rope?"
"I should like to be able to say a book," said Miss Jameson, shaking her head; "but I am afraid Gertie would prefer a skipping-rope."
"Miss Jameson," suggested Florrie, gravely, "we have always had a holiday on birthdays."
"Have you indeed?" she replied smiling; "then it will never do to make Gertie's an exception to the rule."
"Oh, Miss Jameson," burst in Katie, "may we go to the Park on Gertie's birthday? It would be so lovely to spend the day there."
"Well, we will see," said Miss Jameson, "it will depend on the weather. It is getting almost too cold to spend many hours in the Park; but perhaps we could take some luncheon with us, and get home to a late dinner."
"Oh, how lovely!" cried the two girls; and as Gertie came running into the breakfast-room they cried to her, "Gertie, Miss Jameson says that we may go to the Park on your birthday."
"Oh, how splendid!" shouted Gertie, "how delightful! The nuts are just getting ripe. I heard the gardener say so yesterday."