Just after the last parcel had been untied, Molly and Stella came
flying in. That is, Molly came flying, while serious little Stella
walked at her usual sedate pace.

"Many happy returns of the day!" cried Molly, "and here's my
gift." She had in her arms a large and rather ungainly bundle,
loosely wrapped in white tissue paper.

Together she and Marjorie hastily pulled off the papers, and there
was a beautiful cat-basket trimmed with blue ribbons and lined
with soft cushions for Puff to sleep in.

"Oh!" cried Marjorie, flinging her arms around Molly's neck,
"that's just what I've been wanting ever since I've had that
kitten." And grabbing up Puff, who was never very far away, she
laid her in the basket.

Puff seemed delighted with her new bed, and, after curiously
sniffing and poking into all the nooks and corners of it, she
curled up and began to purr herself to sleep.

Stella's gift was a dainty, little white-silk parasol, with a
frill around it, which seemed to Marjorie the loveliest thing she
had ever seen.

"It's beautiful, Stella!" she exclaimed. "And I shall always carry
it whenever I'm dressed up enough. I hope you girls will have your
birthdays soon, so I can give you some lovely things, too."

"Have you had your surprise yet?" asked impatient Molly, who,