The bird had stood listening, and now caught tip the air with vigor, carrying it on with a surety that was as astonishing as it was delightful.
Nelson Randolph shook his head in admiration. "Marvelous!" he cried; "marvelous!" He put his hand in his pocket—"I wish you liked pennies!" he laughed.
"His pennies are meal worms," said Doodles with a grimace. "I'll get him one."
"Ugh! How can he?" laughed Miss Crilly, as the bird disposed of the dainty.
His reward seemed to incite him to further song, for straightway he launched into a gay little medley that set his hearers laughing and admiring at once.
"The birthday supper is ready!" announced Blue informally from the door of the dining-room.
Doodles ran quickly to Miss Lily's side and they took place at the head of the little procession.
Colonel Gresham and Mrs. Adlerfeld came next.
"Oh, I'm so glad!" thought Juanita Sterling, catching a sight of the little Swedish woman's happy face.
The company speedily divided itself into two's, and Miss Sterling, with a bit of a heart flutter, found herself walking beside the president of June Holiday Home. Just ahead were Patricia and David. Where was Polly? She and David were always together—everywhere. But now she and Leonora were side by side. Strange!—but wonderings were lost in the pleasant calls of the occasion.