"My birthday will be the day after to-morrow, and I shall be ten years old," said the boy, without attempting to answer Kathleen.
"And this is Wednesday. I am glad it will be before we leave. We will ask some young friends, and have plenty of strawberries and cream out-of-doors. What do you think of that, Ralph?"
Ralph soberly answered, "Thank you very much, Miss Mountford."
"Don't you want to have an outdoor party?" asked Kathleen.
"If I might, I would rather have just you and father," replied the boy, with a beseeching look. "He is coming home to-day."
"Then I think, Ralph, as I have had so much of you for a long time past, you ought to spend the day at home with your father, as he will have a great deal to say to you. You may just run round here in the morning for something I have to show you. I want to wish you 'Happy returns,' but I will not take you from your father."
There was such quiet decision in Kathleen's manner that the boy felt he had in some way made a mistake, and he said—
"I will do just what you tell me, Miss Mountford. I dare say father will want me."
Drawing Kathleen aside, he asked, "May I whisper something?"
"Certainly, Ralph."