“All right, all right,” said Dick hastily.  “Glad you like it.  Coming, Dad?”

Brother had to thank Daddy Morrison for his gift and kiss him good-bye, and then the interrupted breakfast went on.  As soon as they had all finished, they gathered around Brother to watch him open his birthday gifts.

CHAPTER VII

MORE PRESENTS

“With so many birthdays in one family, we must not give elaborate or expensive presents ever,” Mother Morrison had once said, and she had made that a rule.

So Brother’s presents, while representing a great deal of beautiful love, were simple and mostly home-made.

Louise had made him an entire set of new sails for his ship Swallow; Grace had cleverly painted and cut out a set of paper soldiers, and set them in tiny wooden blocks so that they stood upright; Jimmie’s present was a set of little garden tools; Molly brought in a gingerbread man, very wide and tall and most handsomely decorated with pink sugar icing.  And Mother Morrison gave him a box of watercolor paints and a painting book.

Just as Brother had unwrapped the last of his gifts, dear Grandmother Hastings hurried in.  Under her arm she carried a large square box, and her eyes twinkled as she set it down.

“For the birthday boy!” she said.

“A toolchest!” shouted Brother in delight.  “Look, Grandma, Ralph gave me a puppy!”

“I hope you said ‘thank you!’ just like that!” laughed Grandmother, as Brother hugged her so tightly she could scarcely get her breath.  “Let me give you six kisses, dearie.  Why, Brother, what is the matter?”

“I never said ‘thank you’ at all,” mourned Brother.  “Did I, Sister?  And Ralph gave me such a nice puppy dog.”

“But you can say ‘thank you’ tonight, can’t he, Grandma?” protested Sister loyally.

“Why, of course, dear.  Don’t worry, Brother—­Ralph knew you were very happy to have the doggie.  Now come and tell me what you are going to call him.”

There were many things to be done to get ready for the party that afternoon, and while Brother and Sister introduced Brownie to their grandmother, the rest of the family scattered to their work.  Presently Grandmother Hastings declared she must run home and put a lace collar on her best frock so that she could come to the party, and Brother and Sister were left alone with the new presents.

“Let’s take Brownie out for a walk,” suggested Sister.  “Have you fed him, Roddy?”

Brother shook his head.  No, Brownie had had no breakfast.

“I wish I’d said thank you’ to Ralph,” worried Ralph’s little brother.  “Maybe he won’t come home to supper tonight, and I’ll be in bed when he comes.”

“Telephone him,” said Sister, stroking one of Brownie’s velvet ears.

“I don’t know the name of the law school,” objected Brother.

“Ask Daddy,” promptly responded Sister.  “He’ll know.”