Ellen was having a party and the Popover family was as excited as if it were their own.
In the first place, their house had been dusted and set in order from top to bottom, and in the second place, every one of them had been dressed in something new or bright in honor of the day.
Mr. Popover had a bright green ribbon tied about his neck. This was becoming to Mr. Popover because his natural color was a soft brown.
Mrs. Popover wore about her shoulders a pretty pink shawl. It was made of a scrap of ribbon that Aunt Amelia had given to Ellen and that had been used for several days as a cover on the Popovers' dining-table.
'It is a beautiful table cover,' said Ellen thoughtfully, 'but you really need something new for the party. And we can always put it back on the table again. People often do such things, you know.'
Mrs. Popover's face wore a pleasant smile, so it is quite likely that she agreed with all Ellen said.
Velvetina Popover was really splendid. Over her pink velveteen dress she wore white mosquito netting that stood out roundabout in the most party-like way. In her hair was fastened a little white feather that Ellen had pulled from the pillow on her bed.
'You are almost as beautiful as a bride,' murmured Ellen, turning Velvetina slowly round and round.
Mrs. Popover thought so too, but she wouldn't say it aloud to Velvetina for fear of making her vain.
Baby Popover was the most changed for the party. He was in yellow, wrapped round and round like a little cocoon, and finished off on top by a tall yellow cap. Ellen really took more pains with Baby Popover's costume than with any of the others, but she was well satisfied when once her work was done.
Indeed she was pleased with all the Popover family. She placed them carefully in their Little Red House, Mr. Popover sitting in the parlor, Mrs. Popover standing beside the kitchen stove, Baby Popover lying in his cradle, and Velvetina setting the table for tea.
"The company will be here in a moment,' said Ellen, who was herself dressed in her best white frock. 'And I want them all to think you are the nicest dollies that ever were.'
Soon the company came, five little girls, the daughters of Aunt Amelia's friends, and when they saw the Doll House and the Popover family living inside, they liked it quite as well as Ellen had hoped they would.
They played with the Popovers for a long, long time. They gave them a tea-party. They took them out for a walk. They put the Popovers to bed with measles. They cured them and carried them down to the beach.
The Popovers spent a pleasant hour with the five little girls and Ellen. And the five little girls and Ellen enjoyed the Popovers so well that they were surprised when Aunt Amelia called them into the dining room to eat ice cream and cake and drink lemonade.
Then they all went into the garden where they played games and ran about and tried to climb the apple tree until it was time to go home.
When the party was over and she had had her supper, Ellen went to bed. She was tired out, so tired that she didn't even say good-night to the Popovers.
But the Popovers were not tired, not they.
'It really seems a pity,' said Mrs. Popover, 'when we are all dressed and the house is clean that we shouldn't have a party ourselves.'
'Why can't we have a party?' asked Mr. Popover. 'What is the reason we can't have a party as soon as every one has gone to bed?'
'There is no reason,' was Mrs. Popover's answer.
And on hearing this good news Velvetina clapped her hands and little Loo-Loo bounced in his cradle as if he would say, 'Oh, do let us have a party, do.'
'Isn't it your birthday, my dear?' asked Mr. Popover of his wife. 'It seems to me that you haven't had a birthday in a long, long time.'
'Perhaps it is my birthday,' answered Mrs. Popover after a moment's thought. 'I have been so busy since we moved downstairs that I have really lost all track of time.'
'We will call it your birthday, then,' decided Mr. Popover, 'and have a party as soon as Peanut comes.'
Mrs. Popover at once bustled round, preparing refreshments for the party. Fortunately, that afternoon, one of the little girls had dropped a large currant cake under the table in the playroom.
'Just the thing for our refreshments,' said Mrs. Popover as she spied it lying there. 'Mr. Popover, if you will bring in that cake, I will set the table.'
She spread out her very best china and glass. The table looked well when she had finished.
And then Peanut came.
He had heard the noise of the party that afternoon. He had even had a peep at the five little girls and Ellen, though of course they hadn't seen him. But Brownie didn't care to hear about that party when once he had learned that this was Mrs. Popover's birthday, and that she had been waiting for him to come before beginning the celebration of it.
He drew Mr. Popover aside at once.
'Have you presents for Mrs. Popover?' he asked.
'Presents?' said Mr. Popover. 'No.'
'There are always presents at birthday parties,' said Peanut.
So all the family, except Mrs. Popover, set out to look about the play-room for birthday presents. Mr. Popover carried Loo-Loo, and Peanut and Velvetina walked hand in hand.
Mrs. Popover, alone at home, spent most of the time peeping out of the window at her family strolling about. She couldn't help it, she did so want to know what they would find.
When they came back Mrs. Popover was delighted with her presents.
First of all there was a clock. It was a small toy watch that Ellen sometimes wore on a string about her neck. But hung upon the wall of the Popovers' living-room it answered the purpose of a clock very nicely.
'I have always wanted a clock,' said Mrs. Popover, 'but I never thought I should really have one. Now if we ever move near a school, I can promise the teacher that Velvetina will never be late.'
Then there was a candy box, a small blue candy box, empty, it is true, but of great use, Mrs. Popover declared.
'I can use it as a couch, with sofa cushions, or as a trunk to hold our clothes,' said she.
Loo-Loo and Velvetina each had a flower for their mother. Peanut had scrambled up to a bowl on the table and thrown the flowers down on the floor to them.
Every one was happy when they sat down in the dining-room at the table to eat their refreshments. They were so happy that they laughed happily together as they nibbled at the currant cake.
Perhaps they laughed too loudly. Perhaps they scraped their chairs upon the floor. Perhaps Velvetina's merry little voice grew a trifle shrill.
At any rate, in the very midst of the party, they heard footsteps coming down the hall.
It was Uncle Henry. They all knew him by the flapping of his slippers as he came. Had they wakened him from his sleep?
Straight to the play-room walked Uncle Henry. He snapped on the light. He peered about the room on the floor in every nook and corner.
'I thought I heard a mouse' said Uncle Henry.
From a crack in the floor two bright black eyes peeped out. But of good little Peanut Uncle Henry saw not a sign.
He looked into the Doll House. The Popovers stood stiff and straight where Ellen had left them that afternoon.
'Hum ! Crumbs ! ' said Uncle Henry.
Then off he flapped down the hall to bed.
In the morning Ellen did not know what to think of her Doll House.
I didn't leave crumbs about' said Ellen to Aunt Amelia, who had come to set a mousetrap in a corner of the play-room. 'And I don't remember hanging my watch in the living room nor putting my blue candy box here. Don't you think it is strange, Aunt Amelia?
'I know I didn't leave the Doll House so'
'Perhaps the Popovers could tell you how it happened' suggested Aunt Amelia.
But Ellen didn't even ask the Popovers because she knew very well that they wouldn't tell.
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| Velvetina and Peanut. |
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