But we can't stand this." "I won't say another single word," said Mrs.Perks, with a beaming face, "but that needn't stop me thinking, need it?
For if ever--" "Can we have a plate for the buns ?" Bobbie asked abruptly.

And then Mrs.
Perks hastily laid the table for tea, and the buns and the honey and the gooseberries were displayed on plates, and the roses were put in two glass jam jars, and the tea-table looked, as Mrs.Perks said, "fit for a Prince." "To think!" she said, "me getting the place tidy early, and the little 'uns getting the wild-flowers and all--when never did I think there'd be anything more for him except the ounce of his pet particular that I got o' Saturday and been saving up for 'im ever since.

Bless us! 'e IS early!" Perks had indeed unlatched the latch of the little front gate.
"Oh," whispered Bobbie, "let's hide in the back kitchen, and YOU tell him about it.

But give him the tobacco first, because you got it for him.

And when you've told him, we'll all come in and shout, 'Many happy returns!'" It was a very nice plan, but it did not quite come off.