The pride of Perks.

           Itwasbreakfast-time.Mother’sfacewasverybrightasshepouredthemilkandladledouttheporridge.

           "I’vesoldanotherstory,Chickies,"shesaid;"theoneabouttheKingoftheMussels,sothere’llbebunsfortea.Youcangoandgetthemassoonasthey’rebaked.Abouteleven,isn’tit?"

           Peter,Phyllis,andBobbieexchangedglanceswitheachother,sixglancesinall.ThenBobbiesaid:—

           "Mother,wouldyoumindifwedidn’thavethebunsforteato-night,butonthefifteenth?That’snextThursday."

           "Idon’tmindwhenyouhavethem,dear,"saidMother,"butwhy?"

           "Becauseit’sPerks’sbirthday,"saidBobbie;"he’sthirty-two,andhesayshedoesn’tkeephisbirthdayanymore,becausehe’sgototherthingstokeep—notrabbitsorsecrets—butthekidsandthemissus."

           "Youmeanhiswifeandchildren,"saidMother.

           "Yes,"saidPhyllis;"it’sthesamething,isn’tit?"

           "Andwethoughtwe’dmakeanicebirthdayforhim.He’sbeensoawfullyjollydecenttous,youknow,Mother,"saidPeter,"andweagreedthatnextbun-daywe’daskyouifwecould."

           "Butsupposetherehadn’tbeenabun-daybeforethefifteenth?"saidMother.

           "Oh,then,wemeanttoaskyoutoletusanti—antipateit,andgowithoutwhenthebun-daycame."

           "Anticipate,"saidMother."Isee.Certainly.