"Oh, you beauties!" she exclaimed. "I wonder if I dare give you a little milk. I have heard that milk is dreadfully dear in New York; but, then, aunt is so rich, I dare say she won't mind."
Pussy accepted the milk, and drank it with an air of having conferred a polite attention on a stranger, and established herself on the rug before the fire, while the kitten frisked about the room. Percy finished her own lunch, and then began exploring her new quarters. The room was furnished with every convenience, and on opening the desk she found a store of nice paper and envelopes, all—wonderful to tell!—marked with the name of Percy in bright blue and red. There was an inkstand filled with perfumed violet ink, a gold pen,—even a little waferstand and a box of wax matches: and on the top of all lay a card with this inscription, "To Percy from Aunt Ackerman."
"What a lovely Christmas present!" exclaimed Percy, as she turned over the contents of the desk. "I always did want some paper stamped with my name. I mean to write to Aunt Zoe directly, and to Blandina and Florry, and everybody."
"That looks nice," said Sylvester, as he came after the dishes and found Percy busy at her letter-writing. "Looks as if Missy was getting to feel at home. Mrs. Ackerman she bought that desk herself on purpose for your room. I am so glad you have come, Miss Percy. I am sure you will do Mrs. Ackerman good; and it seems so nice to have a young lady in the house again."
In process of time, Mrs. Ackerman and Margaret came home; and they had dinner. Mrs. Ackerman told Percy of the arrangements for the orphans' Christmas-tree, and of the number and kind of children in The Home; and she and Margaret talked over the different children on their list, and discussed what would be the best present for each, and Percy quite forgot to be shy as she listened. They would go out in the carriage to-morrow, Mrs. Ackerman said, and Percy should help her buy the presents, "unless you want to spend the morning writing to your aunt," added Mrs. Ackerman.
"I wrote to her this afternoon," answered Percy; "and oh, aunt, I want to thank you and Cousin Margaret for my beautiful writing paper and things. I always wanted some paper stamped with my name, and I never saw any so pretty."
"And the desk? I hope you like that," said Margaret; "because it is my taste. We will have it safely boxed for you to carry home."
Percy's eyes opened so wide that they seemed to swallow up her whole face, as she exclaimed:
"Why, Cousin Margaret! You don't mean that the desk is mine to take home with me? Not mine to keep? I thought it belonged to the room."
"It belongs to you, and nobody else, my little cousin," answered Margaret, smiling.