The Marcel children were up betimes the next morning--not that they were ever late, in summer especially, for, young as they were, there were plenty of ways in which they already helped their busy father and mother. And as everybody knows, there is no time so busy in a farm in summer as the early morning. In general they were all, except little Roger, due at school at eight o'clock, but to-day, as I have explained, was a holiday, and the mere feeling of not having to go to school seemed to make them wish to get up even earlier than usual. Then there was the treat of coffee for breakfast, instead of the soup--a very homely kind of soup made with dripping, which English children would not, I fancy, think very good--which was their usual fare, and not coffee, but white bread and _butter_! Joseph smacked his lips at this, you may be sure. After breakfast they all went into the parlour for a few minutes, there to present to Madame Marcel the little gifts they had prepared for her, with which she was of course greatly pleased, as well as with the decorations of the room. "Now go, my children," she said, "and amuse yourselves well till dinner-time. It is a most lovely day. If you can find a nice basketful of wood strawberries they will not come in badly for the dessert." "No, indeed," said Joseph, "there is nothing better than strawberries with cream. You will give us a little of that beautiful thick cream you make the little cheeses for market with, won't you, mother? For a _very_ great treat." And Madame Marcel could not help laughing at the pathetic air with which he said it, even though she told him she feared he was growing too fond of nice things to eat. The strawberry hunt was very successful, and the children came home in good spirits, and quite ready to do justice to the birthday dinner, to which had been invited the clergyman of the village, or cure, as he was called, and Farmer Marcel's widowed sister, with her two children. Later in the day the young people all played games in the orchard; then, too hot and tired to romp more, they sat on the grass playing with their pet kitten, till mother called them in. Their aunt and her little boys and the old cure soon after went away, and then, when Joseph and Roger were safely in bed, the three elder ones reminded their mother of her promise. "I have not forgotten it," she said. "Your father is coming in a moment. I must let you sit up an hour later than usual this evening; but if there is not time to read all the story, we can finish it on Sunday evening, perhaps." And then she led the way back to the parlour, which seemed the most suitable place for reading the story in, besides being cooler than the kitchen, for the evening was very hot.