Itwastheoldlady'sbirthday.

Shegotupearlytobereadyforthepost.

Todayshewassuretherewouldbesomething.Myrawouldn'tforgethermother'sbirthday,evenifsheseldomwroteatothertimes.OfcourseMyrawasbusy.HerhusbandhadbeenmadeMayor,andMyraherselfhadgotamedalforherworkfortheaged.

Theoldladywaseightytoday.Shehadputonherbestdress.Perhaps--perhapsMyramightcome.Afterall,eightywasaspecialbirthday……

EvenifMyradidnotcome,shewouldsendapresent.Theoldladywassureofthat.Twospotsofcolourbrightenedhercheeks.Shewasexcited--likeachild.Shewouldenjoyherday.

YesterdayMrs.Morrisonhadgiventheflatanextraclean,andtodayshehadbroughtacardandabunchofmarigoldswhenshecametodothebreakfast.Mrs.Grantdownstairshadmadeacake,andintheafternoonshewasgoingdowntheretotea.Thelittleboy,Johnnie,hadbeenupwithapacketofmints,andsaidhewouldn'tgoouttoplayuntiltheposthadcome.

"Iguessyou'llgetlotsandlotsofpresents,"hesaid,"IdidlastwerewhenIwassix."

Whatwouldshelike?Apairofslippersperhapsoranewcardigan.Acardiganwouldbelovely.Blue'ssuchaprettycolour.Jimhadalwayslikedherinblue.Oratablelamp.Orabook,atravelbook,withpictures,oralittleclock,withclearblacknumbers.Somanylovelythings.

Shestoodbythewindow,watching.Thepostmanturnedroundthecorneronhisbicycle.Herheartbeatfast.Johnnie（theboylivesdownstairs）hadseenhimtooandrantothegate.

Thenclatter,clatterupthestairs.Johnnieknockedatherdoor.

"Granny,granny,"heshouted,"I'vegotyourpost."

Hegaveherfourenvelopes.Threewereunsealedcardsfromoldfriends.Thefourthwassealed,inMyra'swriting.Theoldladyfeltapangofdisappointment.

"Noparcel,Johnnie?"

"No,granny."

Maybetheparcelwastoolargetocomebyletterpost.Thatwasit.Itwouldcomelaterbyparcelpost.Shemustbepatient.

Almostreluctantlyshetoretheenvelopeopen.Foldedinthecardwasapieceofpaper.WrittenonthecardwasamessageundertheprintedHappyBirthday--Buyyourselfsomethingnicewiththecheque,MyraandHarold.

Thechequeflutteredtothef