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.