'Just as you like. But it is Polly's birthday, you know (many happy
returns, my sweet Pollykins), and there are great preparations going
on.'
'I can't help it, Mrs. Winship. The boys would make fun of my looks;
and I shouldn't blame them.'
'Appear as the Veiled Lady,' suggested Margery, as Mrs. Winship went
out.
'I won't come, and that's the end of it,' said Laura. 'Perhaps if I
bathe my face all the morning I can come to dinner.'
After breakfast was cleared away, Hop Yet and Mrs. Howard's little
China boy Gin were given a half-holiday, and allowed to go to a--
neighbouring ranch to see a 'flend' of Hop Yet's; for it was a part
of the birthday scheme that Bell and Geoffrey should cook the
festival dinner.
Jack was so delighted at the failure of Polly's scheme to sew him in
his tent, that he simply radiated amiability, and spent the whole
morning helping Elsie and Margery with a set of elaborate dinner-
cards, executed on half-sheets of note-paper.
The dinner itself was a grand success. Half of the cards bore a
caricature of Polly in the shape of a parrot, with the inscription
'Polly want a cracker?' The rest were adorned with pretty sketches
of her in her camping-dress, a kettle in one hand, and underneath,
'Polly, put the kettle on,
We'll all have tea.'
This was the bill of fare arranged by Bell and Geoffrey, and written
on the reverse side of the dinner-cards
DINNER A LA MOTHER GOOSE.
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