"What their little girls wants them to do, doesn't them, Denny?"
"'Es," answered Denny, seeing no reason to controvert this reasoning.
"But it's not your birthday, Kath," suggested Mother.
"It's Denny's, and Denny gave it to me, 'cos I told him I wouldn't kiss him if he didn't."
Here the peculiar injustice of this proceeding suddenly struck Denny, and he began to cry, not in a quiet and subdued manner, as a respectable boy would, but in a stentorian roar.
It was at this moment that Molly Healy came up the avenue, and she rushed at and snatched Denny up in her arms.
"Were they cruel to my boy on his birthday? Never mind. Molly's brought you something nice," she cried.
"Now, be under no misapprehensions, Miss Molly Healy. Neither Kathleen nor I have done anything to deserve that scornful look. If you must scold anyone, there is the culprit. Kath. has swindled Denny out of his birthday."
Kath. had noted the result of Denny's roaring, and she argued that similar conduct on her part would meet with similar treatment. Therefore, she took up the strain of loud weeping, from which Molly had interrupted her brother.
"Something for you, too, Kath.," cried the kind-hearted and impulsive Molly, handing Kath. a parcel similar to that which the boy was hugging in his arms. Straightway Kath. ceased from tears, and consented, when Nurse appeared, to accompany her indoors and there investigate the contents.
"I've done it at last!" said Molly, when she had ceased from bestowing kisses on the children, greatly to Nurse's indignation, and had permitted them to be led away.
"You don't mean to tell me!" cried Kathleen, springing up impulsively and kissing Molly.
"Done what? Murder, suicide, or the Confiding Public?" asked Denis.
"Oh! you old stupid. You never understand," cried Kathleen.
"I claim to understand the English language when it is openly expressed. But I lay no claim to a knowledge of female wireless telegraphy. Miss Molly tells you, in the tone of one who confesses a crime, that she has 'done it at last.' If she will explain, I may possibly be able to change the sentence from murder to justifiable homicide."
Kathleen went to him and whispered in his ear.
He rose, and grasped Molly's hand so firmly that she winced under his pressure.