"We mustn't eat any more apples now," said Hortense, also finishing her sixth, "and don't eat too much supper." "Why?" said Andy, unwilling to sacrifice his supper without a good reason. "I've a plan," said Hortense. "We've got to eat thirteen cookies again and grow little--but I won't tell you what we'll do then, for it's to be a surprise!" "We'll go through the little door again and find the Cat's house," Andy guessed. "We must take Highboy and Lowboy for company," said she, "but Alligator and the others won't do at all. How much is four times thirteen?" "Fifty-two," said Andy after a moment. "That's a great many cookies," said Hortense. "I do hope Aunt Esmerelda bakes this afternoon so there are sure to be enough. You see, both Highboy and Lowboy will have to eat thirteen cookies, too, making fifty-two for all of us." "I wonder how many Alligator would have to eat?" said Andy. "Most likely a whole jar full, he's so big." "He can't ride anyhow," Hortense began, and then clapped her hand to her mouth and refused to say another word. On her way to supper, however, she looked into the cooky jar and found it full to the top. She very carefully counted out fifty-two cookies and carried them up to her room in her apron. That night, when all was still and Andy had come by his usual route through the basement, Hortense took him and Lowboy to her room. "What's up to-night?" asked Lowboy. "Oh, I see, upstairs." "If you make bad jokes, you can't come with us," Hortense warned him. Lowboy promised to be good, and Hortense brought out the cookies and divided them into four piles of thirteen each. "I know," said Lowboy, "we'll pretend that this is a midnight spread in boarding school. Jeremiah and Grater will be teachers who try to catch us and----" "All you have to do is to eat your thirteen cookies," said Hortense, "all but a little piece of the last one which you must save and put in your pocket." "After twelve to begin with, I can do that," joked Lowboy. "If it kills me," said Highboy, "tell them I died a pleasant death." Then nobody said a word for a while, and all ate their cookies. At the tenth, Highboy remarked that thirteen would be all he would want. "I'll break my top off or lose a handle," said he, "but it's a nice game." "What's happening to me?" asked Lowboy, after taking a bite of his thirteenth. "Don't eat any more," Hortense warned him. "How could I?" asked Lowboy. "I'm not a storeroom or a wardrobe trunk! Besides, your Grandmother has me half filled with her knitting and things. I must say I prefer cookies." "I wish," said Highboy to Hortense, "that you hadn't packed away that last dress in my bottom drawer." "Don't you see that you've grown small?" Hortense asked. "Too small for the cookies," said Lowboy. "My clothes are so tight that I can't squeeze this last piece into my pocket." "Now we're ready for the next part of the game," said Hortense, getting up.