Lina at the Games by Sally Rippin Page A

punishment for Rose. She’d much rather be outside, climbing trees or digging in the garden. ‘I’ll do it myself,’ she said. Miss Parson followed her down the stairs and went off to the kitchen, while Rose continued on to the breakfast room, where she spotted a small pile of gifts by her plate. There was no way she’d let Miss Parson ruin her birthday, especially with all those surprises waiting!
    The rest of her family was already seated, her father reading the newspaper, The Argus .
    â€˜Happy birthday, Rose!’ everyone chorused.
    â€˜Open your presents,’ Martha said. Rose’s older sister always gave her something small and special.
    Mother tapped her plate with a spoon. ‘Eat your breakfast first, Rose. The gifts can wait.’
    â€˜But . . .’ Rose shrugged. It was useless to argue with Mother. Rose took her plate to the sideboard impatiently, ready to choose some eggs and bacon, but there were only kippers and porridge. She hated kippers – even more than sardines – Mother knew that! Tears stung her eyes, but she bit her lip, determined not to cry. She helped herself to porridge instead, and stirred in four big spoonfuls of sugar and some preserved peaches before Mother noticed.
    Rose ate quickly and was finally allowed to open her presents. She decided to leave Martha’s until last. Mother and Father gave her gloves and a parasol. Edward’s was shaped like a book, which was what she really wanted, but it turned out to be a box of glâcé cherries. She glanced at him and he mouthed, ‘Sorry.’ That meant Mother had bought the cherries and put his name on the card. Rose put all her hopes into the last gift, the smallest one.
    She pulled the paper off and opened the little box. Nestled inside was a tiny gold oval locket engraved with birds. ‘It’s beautiful,’ Rose said.
    â€˜Thank you.’ She jumped up and gave Martha a hug and a kiss, breathing in her perfume.
    Martha laughed and smoothed Rose’s hair with her soft hands. She was always dressed so perfectly, her pretty face framed by her swept-up dark hair.
    â€˜What about everyone else?’ Mother said, tilting her head so Rose could kiss her cheek.
    â€˜Eleven now, eh, Rose?’ Father said. ‘You’ll be married before we know it.’ He winked and Rose laughed. Father already knew that Rose planned to become an explorer and travel the world instead of getting married.
    When Rose kissed Edward, he whispered, ‘Here’s your real present,’ and shoved his cricket ball into her hand. Luckily, Mother was already on her way out of the breakfast room and didn’t see.
    â€˜Holy smoke!’ Rose said. ‘Are you sure?’
    Edward nodded. ‘Have a nice birthday. Are you still going to the park?’
    â€˜I hope so.’ Mother hadn’t actually promised when Rose had asked, but she hadn’t said no either.
    Until then, though, it was lessons as usual with Miss Parson, which meant an hour of reading from a storybook Rose nearly knew by heart and then mending her ripped stocking. She made such a mess of the stitches that Miss Parson had to give it to Sally, the housemaid, after all. Rose desperately wished Miss Parson could teach more than needlework and French verbs. Rose wanted to learn geography and history, like Edward, and study insects and fossils. However, she could just imagine Miss Parson turning her nose up at a dinosaur bone!
    At lunch, Mother said, ‘Now, I expect you to be ready by three o’clock.’
    â€˜Isn’t that a little late for the park?’ Rose said.
    â€˜We’re not going out,’ Mother said. ‘Your grandmother and Uncle Charles and Aunt Philippa are coming for afternoon tea.’
    â€˜But what about the park?’
    â€˜Don’t be silly, Rose,’ Mother said. ‘They are visiting for your birthday. You should be grateful. No doubt they will bring