Critically studying the gift, the family clustered around.
"It isn't our basket, Mother," Mary presently asserted. "See, this one is red."
"There must be some mistake, then," Mrs. McGregor declared. "They've left it at the wrong place."
"But our name is on it!" cried Tim.
"Where? Where?" What a bumping of heads there was as everybody bent to read the card.
"Yes, our name is on it plain as day!" replied Mrs. McGregor with a puzzled expression. Then, inspired by a solution of the mystery, she wheeled round on her brother.
"How much do you know about this, Frederick?"
"Not a thing, Nellie—I give you my word! Dearly as I should have liked to send you such a gift, my purse wasn't quite good for it," flushed the captain.
"And what wonder, with all you've spent this day," returned his sister quickly. "Then we'll count you out. But where could it have come from?"
"We don't need to leave it in the hall until we find out, do we, Mother?" Mary ventured mischievously.