Ralph swung Sister up and sat her on the fence-post.

"Well, I don't believe I could do that," he replied slowly. "Let's
see, did you drink your milk today without grumbling?"

"Yes, I did--didn't I, Sister?" said Brother eagerly.

"Yes," nodded Sister. "He drank all of his for lunch, too, Ralph,
and didn't spill any."

"That's certainly fine," praised Ralph. "I'm sure you've grown a
little bit every day, too. Well, Brother, I tell you what I'll do
--tomorrow morning I'll bring the present up to your room before
breakfast. How will that do?"

Brother was more excited than ever, and for once he was ready to
go to bed that night without a protest. He and Sister trailed
sleepily off upstairs, wishing for the morning to come so that
they might know what this mysterious present was.

They had two little white beds in the same room and they could
undress themselves very nicely if they helped each other with the
buttons. Mother Morrison usually came up before they were ready
for bed, and on bath nights she always came up with them and
stayed till they were in bed.

The night before a birthday party was, of course, a bath night,
and Sister was very willing to let Brother take his bath first
because she had a picture book she wanted to look at. She was