"No, not yet," fell like cold water on her warm hopes. "But she says
to-morrow's your birthday."
"Why, so it is!" said Nimpo, reflecting. "I never thought of it."
"Wal, she thinks perhaps I'd best let you have a few girls to tea on
that day, if 't wont be too much of a chore for me," went on Mrs.
Primkins, deliberately.
Nimpo's face was radiant. "Oh, Mrs. Primkins, if you _will!_" But it
fell again. "But where could they be?"--for trespassing on the dismal
glories of the Primkins' parlor had never entered her wildest dreams.
"I've thought of that," said Mrs. Primkins, grimly. "Of course, I
couldn't abide a pack of young ones tramping up my best parlor carpet,
and I thought mebbe I'd put a few things up in the second story, and let
you have 'em there."
The second story was unfurnished.
"Oh, that will be splendid!" said Nimpo, eagerly. "But,--but,"--she
hesitated,--"could they take tea here?" and she glanced around the
kitchen, which was parlor, sitting-room, dining-room, and, in fact,
almost the only really useful room in the house. The front part Mrs.
Primkins enjoyed as other people enjoy pictures, or other beautiful
things,--looking at, but not using them.
"No; I shall set the table in the back chamber, and let you play in the
front chamber. We can put some chairs in, and I'm sure a bare floor is
more suitable for a pack of young ones.
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