Knock Three Times!

Aunt Phœbe sends a Birthday PresentThis story really begins with the arrival of a brown paper parcel addressed to Molly but while the postman is bringing it along the road there may be just time to explain about Jack and Molly’s birthday so that you will understand why Molly sat down to supper wishing earnestly that silver bangles were considered useful and necessary presents.Jack and Molly were twins and this was their ninth birthday. Such a happy exciting day it had been; it felt like a birthday all day long so you can guess how jolly it was and how special it made Jack and Molly feel. Little did they guess what a weird and mysterious end to the day was now approaching!They had received a number of beautiful presents and to their unbounded joy a fine new bicycle each from Mother and Father. But there was one particular thing that Molly had wanted for her birthday and that was a silver bangle.“Like Mother’s� she had told Jack “only silver. One that nearly slips off when I hang my hand down and that I have to push back up my arm—and it jingles.�As there happened also to be one other thing that Jack wanted specially a box of paints the two children had decided some days ago to write to their Aunt Phœbe who always remembered their birthday and hint to her as delicately as possible what the most acceptable presents would be. It had been a forlorn hope for Molly because Aunt Phœbe had fixed ideas about useless and useful presents. Probably she might consider a box of paints useful to encourage Jack’s artistic leanings; but a bangle——! Still Molly sent her letter and hoped for the best.CONTENTSAunt Phœbe sends a Birthday PresentThe Adventure BeginsThe Other Side of the TreeWhy Old Nancy Slept through the Sunset HourWhich Explains who is Inside the Grey PumpkinThe Black LeafGlan Opens the Gate in the Nick of TimeAunt Janet Puts on her Best BonnetPlanning the SearchSome One Meets Jack and Molly in the Third Green LaneTrappedThe Goblin’s HeathTimothy Gives Them a ClueMr Papingay’s House in the Orange WoodJack’s MisfortuneMolly Accepts a PresentA WarningMolly Comes to Lake DesolateMolly Looks Through Miss Lydia’s WindowWhat Happened Outside Old Nancy’s CottageThe Grey Pumpkin’s FateThe Impossible World AgainILLUSTRATIONSIT WAS JACK DAZED AND RUBBING HIS EYESJACK AND MOLLY CLAMBERED OVER THE FENCETHE LITTLE DWARF WAS LIFTED STRUGGLING AND SCREAMINGTHE HUGE GATE SWUNG BACK“DO HAVE ONE!�ONE AND ALL WERE SIMPLY PAINTED PEOPLE“THANK GOODNESS YOU ’AVE WOKE UP!�QUICK AS THOUGHT SHE STRUCK ONE OF OLD NANCY’S MATCHES