“When are you going to have the feast, Hilary?”
“About half-past eight or nine o’clock, though it’s supposed to be a ‘midnight feast.’ We’ll begin to borrow dishes and fix up soon after dinner. Won’t it be jolly? It isn’t every girl that can be at Greycliff and have a birthday and a big box from home.”
“A little package came to me, too,” said Cathalina, putting down her work and going into the bedroom. In a moment she appeared with a little black leather case.
“O, what did they send you?” asked generous Hilary, who was always glad for the good fortune of others. Cathalina opened the case. There on soft ivory satin lay a delicate gold chain with an exquisite little pendent of opals and tiny diamonds.
“How beautiful!” exclaimed Hilary, looking closely.
“Try it on,” Cathalina invited, her eyes dancing.
“Isn’t it the sweetest thing, Cathalina! It will be so pretty with all your low-necked dresses.”
“Yes it—won’t, Miss Hilary,” replied Cathalina, who could not wait any longer. Putting her arm about Hilary, she held the hands that were beginning to unfasten the clasp. “It’s yours, girlie, with ‘many happy returns.’ I had Mamma get your birthstones, for it’s lucky, they say for October girls to wear opals.” Cathalina laughed at Hilary’s astounded look. “I hope that you will enjoy it and remember your old goose of a roommate when you wear it.”
“You old darling!—but I can’t, really, it’s too nice,—opals and diamonds!”
“It isn’t much, honestly. I wanted Mamma to get something nicer, but she knew best, I suppose.”