Dora was delighted that the blue kitten should be named for a blue star. She stopped to say so before finishing the letter. “I wanted to spend our birthday together, but I have to teach all day. So I made another plan which Mother will tell you.” Dora at once turned to Mother. “I will tell you when you have eaten your porridge,” said Mrs. Merrill. “Your breakfast is getting cold, Dora. Eat your oatmeal and drink your milk.” “No eat—no go,” said Uncle Dan. “Dan, keep still,” said Mrs. Merrill. “Begin to eat, Dora.” Dora was too happy to feel hungry, but she knew the oatmeal must go down and that she must eat an egg and a slice of toast. When she had almost finished, Mrs. Merrill told the plan. “I had a letter, too, from Miss Chandler,” she said. “She has invited you and Lucy to come into Boston to-morrow morning and stay with her until Sunday afternoon.” “Mother! May we?” exclaimed Lucy and Dora in one breath. “I never went to Boston but twice in my life,” said Lucy. “I never visited anybody over night,” said Dora and then they both said, “Mother, _do_ let us!” “Father and I are willing you should go,” replied Mrs. Merrill. “Miss Chandler sent a dollar to pay for your tickets, and Father will put you on the eight o’clock train and Miss Chandler will meet you in the North Station.” “I didn’t know Aunt Margaret kept house,” said Lucy. “It isn’t a real house,” said Mrs. Merrill, “that is, not like this one. She has some rooms in a big building.” “Mother!” said Dora, “oh, Mother, may I take Aunt Margaret a piece of my birthday cake?” “How do you know there will be a birthday cake?” asked Mrs. Merrill. “Because there always is,” said Dora. CHAPTER VII ABOUT BOSTON You may be sure that Lucy and Dora did not oversleep next morning. For supper there had been pink ice-cream and a proper birthday cake with nine pink candles, and the holiday feeling lasted all night. Father took them to the station and put them on the train. He spoke to the conductor and then to Lucy. “Now, Lucy,” he said, “if Miss Chandler is not on the platform where the train comes in, you and Dora are to walk right back to the car where you got off, and this gentleman will bring you home on his next train.” “But, Father,” said Dora, “Aunt Margaret will be there. She _said_ she would meet us.” “Yes, I know,” said Father, “and I think she will be waiting. This is so you will know what to do if anything happens to prevent her being there.” Father kissed them and the conductor said, “All aboard!” Father stepped off quickly. Neither Lucy nor Dora often went on a train. They traveled so seldom that it was great fun to see the farmhouses and cows and hens as the train scurried past, and to watch the telegraph poles swooping down to gather up their wires.