Greta said hardly a word all evening. She was afraid to ask her father what he was going to do with Chouse. Maybe he would forget the whole matter if nothing were said about it. And she didn't mention the kittens, for that would bring up the subject of Chouse. Greta's mother noticed that the little girl was unusually quiet. "Greta, how would you like to have Anna come and visit you this summer?" her mother asked. "Oh, Mother, that would be wonderful." Greta's face was one big smile. Anna was her cousin, and she lived in Copenhagen. Four years ago she had spent the summer on the farm with Greta and Hans, and the three children had had fun together all summer long. [Illustration: GRETA ON HER BALCONY] [Illustration: HANS AND CHOUSE] "You can write her in the morning and invite her to visit you." Greta ran across the room to her mother and gave her a big hug. "Oh, Mother, you are _so_ sweet!" Greta's mother smiled. She understood little girls. She knew that Greta had been sad, and she wanted to make her happy. "I guess Anna is quite a big girl by now, Greta. Let's see. She must be thirteen years old." "Do you suppose she will act like a young lady? Or will she want to play with me?" "Her mother says she is quite a tomboy, so I'm sure she will want to play with you." "Shall I ask her to bring her bicycle?" After her family and her dog and her kittens, Greta liked her bicycle better than anything else in the world. She knew that she wouldn't want to leave _her_ bicycle at home if she went away for the summer. So surely Anna would like to bring hers along. "She doesn't need to bring her bicycle, Greta," said Hans. "She can use mine." "Yes, I think that will be best, Greta," said her mother. [Illustration: EVERY HOME HAS ITS GARDEN] "And I'll let her use my new boat, too," added the boy. "Why, Hans, you won't let _me_ use your boat." "But you are only ten, and Anna is thirteen," argued Hans. "Even if I am only ten, I can paddle a boat." "Time for bed now, Greta," reminded her mother. She didn't want the day to end in a quarrel. "I'll get up early, Mother, and write Anna the very first thing." Greta kissed her mother and father good night and started to bed. Her own little room was just across the hall from the living room. The dining room, the living room, and three of the bedrooms were on the second floor of the house. On the first floor there was the kitchen, the maids' rooms, and the large office for Greta's father. Greta liked her little room, and she especially liked the balcony that was just outside her room. It was a small balcony looking out over the courtyard. It was fun to play on this balcony and to pretend that she was an actress bowing to a large crowd of people.