Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited--like a child. She would enjoy her day.

Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn't go out to play until the post had come.

"I guess you'll get lots and lots of presents," he said, "I did last week when I was six."

What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. Or a new cardigan. A cardigan would be lovely. Blue's such a pretty colour. Jim had always liked her in blue. Or a table lamp. Or a book, a travel book, with pictures, or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.

She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.

Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door.

"Granny, granny," he shouted, "I've got your post."

He gave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed cards from old friends. The fourth was sealed, in Myra's writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.

"No parcel, Johnnie?"

"No, granny."

Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would come later by parcel post. She must be patient.

brighten

vt. make bright or brighter 使发光；使发亮
cheek
n. either side of the face below the eye 面颊
extra
a. additional 额加的，外加的
clean
n. cleaning
bunch
n. things of the same kind that are tied together （一）束，（一）串
marigold
n. 万寿菊（花）
packet
n. small parcel box 小包（裹）
mint
n. 薄荷糖
slipper
n. 拖鞋
cardigan =sweater
n. （羊毛）开衫
clatter
n. a number of rapid short knocking sounds 咔嗒声
granny
n. (colloq. for)grandmother
envelope stamp邮票
n. a paper cover for a letter 信封
unsealed
a. 未密封的
seal　　　　　　　
vt.　封起来
sealed
a. 密封的