“Don’t ever do it again, Freddie!” cautioned his father, when quiet had once more settled over the household.
“I won’t, Daddy,” he promised.
“Then you may give Dinah her regular present,” said Mother Bobbsey.
Freddie handed the cook a package wrapped in blue paper.
“Is yo’ suah dey isn’t no mouse in dis?” asked Dinah, pretending to be frightened.
“No mouse!” Freddie assured her. “You open it!”
And when Dinah had done so she found a bottle of perfume, which, she declared, was “jest de sweetest kind what ebber was!” It was exactly what she had wished for, she said.
Then the other presents were given to her. Nan’s was a pocketbook, and Bert’s a pair of comfortable slippers. Flossie handed Dinah a gay, red silk handkerchief.
“An’ when I puts pufume on dat, an’ walks out, everybody’ll be wishin’ dey was me!” declared the fat, black cook. “Dish suah am a lovely birfday!”
There were presents, also, from Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey, and when she had admired everything, and thanked them all, Dinah finished bringing in the breakfast. They all laughed at Freddie’s mouse, and he told how he had caught it.