“He’s licking you,” said Leigh; “I dare say he means it for kissing though. I say, Mary, wouldn’t it be nice if papa would let us have a puppy for our very own.”
“A baby puppy and a baby sister,” said Mary. “Did you know us had got a baby sister?” she went on, to the smith. “Her comed to-day ’cos it were my birfday.”
“That was a fine birthday present,” said Yakeman, “and you’d be welcome to this puppy if your papa would allow you to have it. I’ve promised two and I’m keeping one myself, but this here I’d not settled about.”
Mary’s eyes sparkled, and so did Leigh’s. “We’d have him between us, Mary,” said Leigh. “We must ask papa. You’d better ask him because of its being your birthday, you know.”
Just then they heard nurse’s voice, she had been waiting for Artie while he had another ride on the stile.
“Master Leigh and Miss Mary, where are you?” she said. “We must be getting on.”
The children thanked the smith and ran after her, full of the offer which had been made to them.
“Oh, nurse,” said Mary, when they had told her of it. “Just fink of all my birfday presents! A baby sister and a baby dog, and all my nother things,” and she gave a great sigh of pleasure.
“Yes, indeed, Miss Mary,” said nurse. “I don’t think you’ll ever forget your fourth birthday.”