“Oh, out somewhere, to see some girl,” replied Ralph, who seldom went to call on a girl.  “Scoot now, Sister—­I’m going out on the porch and read.  You’ve made poor old Dick half an hour late as it is.”

Ralph went out on the screened front porch, where Daddy Morrison was reading beside the electric lamp, and had just picked up his magazine, when there was a patter of little feet and Sister threw her arms around him breathlessly.

“I love you, Ralph!” she said quickly, hugging him and then turning to run.

“Here, here!” cried Daddy Morrison in surprise.  “Thought you were in bed long ago.  Don’t I get any kissing?”

“Mother is waiting to bathe me,” explained Sister hurriedly, “and Dick wants his collar buttons, so I have to go, Daddy.”

Her father caught her as she rushed past him and gave her a quick kiss.

“Sister!” called Mother Morrison.  “Sister, are you coming?”

Sister, the box of buttons clutched tightly in her hand, ran upstairs.  Dick, glowering, met her at the top.

“For goodness’ sake!” he ejaculated.  “I’d about given up hope—­and if you ever touch one of my things again—­”

“I won’t!” promised Sister hastily.  “Honest Injun, I won’t.  You aren’t mad, are you, Dick?”

Dick was wrestling with a stiff collar before the glass in the hall.

“No, I’m not mad, but I shall be in a minute,” he announced grimly.  “Don’t stand there and watch me, please; you make me nervous.”

“Come and take your bath, dear,” called Mother Morrison.

“Don’t you hear Mother?  What are you waiting for?” demanded Dick.

“Waiting for you to kiss me good-night,” answered Sister composedly.

Dick stared at her.  Then he laughed.

“There!” he said, picking Sister up and kissing her soundly.  “Now will you leave me in peace, you monkey?”

Sister was satisfied and hurried off to her bathing.  When she came out of the bathroom, she found Brother sleepily waiting for her, sitting up, in his bed.

“If you hear Ralph in the morning,” he told her earnestly, “you call me, ’cause I want to see my own birthday present before you do.”

“Can’t I look at it if you’re not awake?” asked Sister hopefully.

“No, you mustn’t,” said Brother firmly.  “It’s my birthday present, and I want to see it first.  Now you remember!”

Mother Morrison kissed them both, put a screen in another window, for the night was warm, and snapped off the light.  It was time for Brother and Sister to be asleep.

“Roddy!” whispered Sister softly.

“Uh-huh?” came sleepily from Brother.

“Suppose I can’t help looking when Ralph opens the door?”

Brother roused himself.

“You mustn’t,” he repeated.  “It’s my birthday.  I wouldn’t look first if it was your birthday present.  You can shut your eyes, can’t you?”

Sister sighed, and a big yawn came and surprised the sigh.