“Happy birthday, daughter!” from Mr. Carter.
“Happy birthday! Happy birthday!” shouted all of them in chorus.
“Why, I didn’t know anybody remembered!” cried Helen.
“Not remember your eighteenth birthday! Well, rather!” said Mr. Carter.
Then began the opening of the boxes while Chloe stood in the corner grinning for dear life.
A pearl pin from Mrs. Carter, one she had worn when she first met her husband, was in the small box on top. An old-fashioned filigree gold bracelet was Mr. Carter’s gift. It had belonged to his mother, for whom Helen was named.
“It will look very lovely on your arm, my dear,” he said when Helen kissed him in thanks.
Cousin Elizabeth Somerville had sent her ten dollars in gold; Lewis, some new gloves; there was a vanity box from Lucy with a saucy message about always powdering her nose; a little thread lace collar from Nan, made by her own hands; and to balance all was a five-pound box of candy from Dr. Wright.
“I had a big marble for you, but it done slipt out’n my pocket,” said Bobby, and then he had to give a big hug and a kiss, which Helen declared was better than even a marble.
“But you haven’t opened your big box, the one at the bottom,” insisted Nan. It had got covered up with papers and Helen had overlooked it. “Please hurry up and open it because Lucy and I have to beat it. It will be train time before we know it.”