“I guess Katy ought to have the best place ’cause she’s company.”
“The queen has spoken,” replied Dick Harding with an approving smile. “Perhaps, I might hold the birthday on my lap.”
“I wouldn’t trust him with it Jane. Young lawyers always want to be older than they are,” laughed Marian.
Jane made an elaborate pretense of handing over the birthday.
“You see Chicken Little Jane has a better opinion of me than you,” retorted Dick. “Miss Morton, which way shall we go?”
The children were riotously happy. Mr. Harding let each child choose a direction to turn, and they whirled around corners and drove by each small guest’s home in great state, so that mothers and sisters might see.
Bright hoods and caps and coats made the sleigh load look like a nosegay and Dick Harding treated them all with an exaggerated courtesy that kept them merry.
They landed at the Morton front gate at six o’clock. It was quite dark but the street lamps were lit and the cheer of gas and firelight streamed out from the old gabled house invitingly.
“This was a mighty sweet thing to do, Dick,” said Marian as he helped her out.
“The pleasure is mine,” he responded gallantly, “further I’m going to claim a toll of one kiss and a half from every passenger under twelve years of age.”